THE Department of Education (DepEd) is determined to make progress in its campaign for quality education.
Among the areas which DepEd recognizes needs improvement are:
* Improving the learning environment
* Teacher’s upskilling and reskilling
* Engagement of stakeholders for support and collaboration
Unfortunately, all these areas are seriously adversely affected by the pandemic. It is currently premature to make suggestions on the assumption that the pandemic will be over relatively soon. Sadly, it is still very unclear when a state of normality will return.
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Despite the pandemic, the Constitutional aspects relating to the State’s obligations in the education sector should still be in force.
Specifically, Article XIV says, in part:
“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.” (Section 1).
“Establish and maintain a system of free public education in the elementary and high school levels. Without limiting the natural right of parents to rear their children, elementary education is compulsory for all children of school age.” (Section 2(2)).
Compulsory. This cuts both ways. Parents have responsibilities. But so does DepEd.
Millions of students are coping with the difficulties of online lessons but DepEd found that only 25 million students were enrolled for the school year 2020-2021. This leaves at least three million out of school.
In addition, many enrolled students are no longer attending online classes. The primary reason is, of course, the lack of access to suitable equipment and unstable internet connections.
DepEd’s 2021 budget is P708 billion. We believe DepEd, perhaps with the cooperation of the telecommunications companies, should take more responsibility for ensuring that its students are able to receive online education.
On the other side of the coin, there is much anecdotal evidence that teachers, so often the unsung heroes of our education system, are, in millions of cases, achieving a fruitful online dialogue with their students. In fact, I have come across examples where young students are making more progress in the online environment than they were in the pre-COVID19 era of classroom teaching. Which makes me wonder what went on in the classroom.
We now live in a high-tech world where education is more important than ever.
Despite the challenges, we, both the State and parents, must do more to ensure that quality education is delivered to our children./PN
