More than a year ago, almost all countries worldwide have agonizingly decided to close
schools, institutions, colleges and universities. This severe sudden interference was heavily felt
by everybody exempting no one; the instantaneous shifting of normal classes to home-schooling
is not only a colossal blow to school owners, administrators, teachers and parents’ productivity,
but most importantly to the learners’ life and learning.
Teaching and learning is continuously happening online until an indefinite time, on an
unseasoned, young and unproven scale, by and large here in the Philippines. Whether we admit it
or not, everyone is in a trial-and-error phase; everything is experimental. However, what may
seem to post little to none and be just “small and short-term adjustment issues” may, in the long
run, give birth to big and long-term ramifications, this I can see clearly right through, and can say
for this is my personal account of what’s taking place in the virtual world of teaching and
learning.
Perhaps to the disappointment of most, as we are experiencing a global learning crisis, it
is an undisputed fact for teachers like me, that many students are continuing their studies, yet are
not grasping what they are supposed to learn. If learning by meeting students personally, and
teaching them closely seems to still be a little difficult to some learners, the situation is now way
much worse, even barely imaginable.
The teaching force couldn’t help but to be in low spirits as they try to surmise what will
happen to these students whose education has been immensely disrupted and affected by the
pandemic. There are these moments of despondency that they believe young minds have been
robbed of their precious learning moments inside the premises of our schools. Sad, really really
sad.
Nonetheless, as grueling as it seems, educators shouldn’t make their learners feel like
their teachers are losing joy and hope. Keep on keeping on, dearest teachers your learners are
counting on you.
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it.” — Helen
Keller
By: Ma. Rhodora V. Herrera | Teacher I | Bataan National High School
