Ten years ago, every teacher in elementary schools is familiar with the MLC. MLC— Minimum Learning Competencies— are objectives taken from the Elementary Learning Continuum. These learning objectives in all areas were studied and adopted as learning objectives and skills by educational experts and curriculum planners. These learning objectives and skills are prioritized in the elementary level to ensure mastery learning.
But MLC is more than Minimum Learning Competencies. It has a deeper meaning. In fact this meaning is the key to its implementation, formidable task of the Minimum Learning Competencies. MLC means More Love and Concern.
If there is More Love and Concern of teachers to the pupils, there would be drop – outs. Children continue their studies on runny or sunny days with enthusiasm because their teachers are for them. No schoolwork is ever monotonous to pupils because they enjoy their school life. Children in the rural areas prefer to work and help their parents during vacation time rather than to drop out from schooling.
If there is MLC there would be no absenteeism. Children abhor to be absent because they miss the pleasure of solving problem in Mathematics, of experimenting in science and health, of playing ball games in Physical Education, of improving their manipulative skills in Practical Arts and Livelihood Education, and of communication fluency in Language arts, to them staying in the classroom is a challenging activity. Besides, out –of–school problems of schoolchildren would be threshed out and given immediate solutions.
If there is MLC, pupil’s performance would reach the maximum level of each individual child. No child would ever be worthless because he would advance to his own capacity for the potential in any child in infinite. MLC is for the welfare of the young.
MCL does not aim for the welfare of the young people alone. It is also for the welfare of the teachers. If there is MLC, teachers would not be lured to seek for greener pastures. To them teaching is a preoccupation which they feel proud of. They rather keep on striving, improving their competence day in the day out for a lifetime because teaching is their commitment and pride.
If there is MLC, school heads keeps on improving their schools, academic aspects as well as physical conditions. They conceive new ideas and become implementers of current teaching trends. More than teaching expertise they keep themselves abreast with the exigencies of the system.
If there is MLC from school managers to teachers, teachers would stick to the teaching profession. Why? Teaching has psychic rewards which could not be compensated by pecuniary measures. They are in the classrooms not because they are but because many love them – the parents, the pupils, and school managers.
By: Celia I. Sarmiento | Lamao Elementary School | Limay, Bataan
