ILOILO City – Stress may have gotten the best of the teacher seemingly berating a student in an online class. A video of this has gone viral.
Western Institute of Technology’s (WIT) College of Marine Engineering acknowledged that the teacher in the video was a faculty.
Engineer Mark Anthony Elupre, college dean, had this to say: “The (incident in the) viral video…(was) an isolated case.”
Conclusions must not be hastily drawn from what was heard or seen in that 43-second short video, he stressed.
“I review(ed) the video clip…(T)he conversation (between the teacher and student) prior to the start of the video clip cannot be ascertained (but it seemed to indicate) there (was) stress…on both sides,” according to Elupre.
The student claimed he was having internet connection problems.
In the video, the teacher could be seen and heard telling the student, “Bal-an mo nga waay ka signal sagi ka pa-enroll (in an online class). Indi kasarang signal mo nga-a nagpa-enroll ka pa?…Saka sa babaw lubi.”
The teacher himself explained his side when reached by the press.
Engineer Inocencio Dadivas has been teaching at the WIT College Marine Engineering for 18 years now.
What was not included in the viral video, according to Dadivas, was the fact that the student had been absent from his online class (Auxiliary Machinery, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) for five straight sessions (Sept. 8, 12, 16, 18, 23).
He said he asked his other students what happened to this particular student and then made a roll call.
The voice of this student was eventually heard saying he was now present.
“I told him, ‘Present kaw? May record ko ‘di absent kaw. Na ano ka?’ I was concerned. Siling ‘ya ‘Waay di signal sa amon, Sir,’” said Dadivas.
According to the teacher, the student failed to attend three topics thus he emphasized to him the importance of attending classes.
The student, however, kept on insisting he had no internet connection.
“Because I am concerned, I told him, ‘Saka ka sa babaw sang lubi para may signal ka,’” said Dadivas.
His students past and present could attest to his being concerned of their welfare, stressed Dadivas.
In an official statement, College Dean Elupre stated that parents and students have been oriented on the teaching-learning schemes the school would be using due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“Online class is highly considered as the most effective and fitting way to teach and learn while observing the health protocols of the government,” Elupre stressed.
On the other hand, he said, teachers were instructed to “ensure efficiency of the delivery of learning.”
“I believe the teacher (Dadivas) was trying to make an impression to not only the involved student but (to) the entire class that (he) means business as far as online class is concerned,” according to Elupre.
“No signal, lousy signal, no load, no internet access” are flimsy excuses for being late to register online or being absent in an online class, he added.
Elupre also played down what Dadivas said in the viral video.
“It is (in) our culture as Ilonggos, or as Filipinos in general, (to) often exaggerate (our) words…(and o)ften…(we are)…taken out of context…” he said.
Still, Elupre said, Dadivas must be able to “manage his stress.”
He added: “We will be (discussing with) him (the)…proper way of handling…isolated case(s) like this.”
Elupre offered his “sincerest apology” for the “confusion and uncertainty or even anxiety” that the viral video may have created among WIT’s stakeholders.
“This institution will always uphold a responsible, effective and well-directed teaching-learning atmosphere without sacrificing quality education worthy of our important clienteles – the students,” stressed Elupre.
He added: “We remain steadfast. Western Institute of Technology is bigger than this video clip.”/PN
