The pandemic Covid19 which brought confusion and apprehension to the mentalities of people will surely mark a new history in education in the Philippines. Its impact made the parents of the students under basic education hesitant whether to enroll their children for this school year 2020-2021. Teachers, and other school staff are similarly worried about their safety once they go to school. But what really matters most in this time of crisis, the health, or the education?
Truly this situation of us is not that easy. We can never be sure whether our lives will go back to normal or not once community quarantine in different areas is lifted. But we are all aware that there are actually no vaccines and medicines for the virus produced yet, so what might be its implication? And if there are, these will all still be subjected to clinical trials and will probably take a long time process. Nothing is certain nowadays. What remains to be certain is that we have to do something which can definitely substitute to the normal living that this pandemic stole in us.
Various platforms and avenues for learning delivery are being introduced left and right by different groups including publishing companies, educational organizations, and even ongoing webinar series initiatives from the Department of Education. The Philippines might not really be ready for online or distance learning with the aid of smartphones, laptops, desktops, and other digital technology through internet connectivity because we all know that not everyone have such. However, we could not go away with the advantage that the technology might bring in us especially in this kind of condition.
Traditional face to face learning is really what we are used to and what are into for the past several decades. With this, many skills are being developed once students are inside the classroom. They develop communication, collaboration, interaction, and some lead to hands on learning and discovery and many more other than sticking to reading modules and textbooks. However, we should always remember that learning is flexible. We can learn from home, from community, from experiences, and not only from school. Learning is indeed everywhere. We are just putting learning in formal through school system.
With this pandemic that most countries around the world is experiencing, we can do something not to stop learning and giving learning to our beloved children. We just have to embrace the so called new normal in education, and we are getting the road into that. This is where we are now, in uncertain situation. Yet, this uncertainty should not hinder us to creating a meaningful goal especially in education. The system of this new normal does not pointing on single modality of learning delivery which is commonly known as physical appearance in school but also taking chances to utilize the various modes such as online, modular, learning from home, and face to face if possible subject for health protocols. “Health is wealth”, which is true. Health should be the top-most priority. We only have a single chance to live. But we also have a chance to choose. It is up to us.