More support needed for blended learning

A RECENT study of the Department of Science and Technology – National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) showed that teachers were spending their own money to buy gadgets and internet services to facilitate blended distance learning.

With the recent Commission on Audit (COA) findings on the lapses in utilization of funds under Bayanihan 1 and 2 (P3.2 billion) and the validity and propriety of materials for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Learning Continuity Program (P4 billion), the agency should have been able to provide better support to teachers.

The DOST-NRCP study proves that our public school teachers are highly under-supported in the blended distance learning program. It revealed that most of teachers had to use their own personal money to acquire devices such as laptops, mobile phones, printers and internet connection services to fulfill their duties and facilitate blended distance learning. This is not surprising especially with DepEd and the Duterte administration’s skewed budget prioritization. Teachers’ salaries are already very low, but here they are shelling out money from their own pockets to spend on teaching materials in this period of blended distance learning. This is tragic.

Teachers have long been demanding for better budget prioritization especially as we continue to face another pandemic school year. The recommendation of the DOST-NRCP study is for an additional budget for internet allowances of teachers, equip our teachers with the technologies they need and support for their students.

The past pandemic school year would not have been possible if it were not for the sacrifice and funding for blended distance learning by our teachers. Funding must simply be increased to provide adequate support for teachers and students. It is to no surprise that the DOST study also showed that more than 90 percent of the teachers said students need remediation because their students learn less in the current learning continuity program of the DepEd.

Investing in the needs of our teachers by giving them just remuneration, ensuring that they will not have out-of-pocket expenses, and removing teaching overloads and non-teaching duties will be the key factors to perform better in their teaching tasks and provide the youth access to quality education.