How are children coping in school?

The pandemic has changed our lifestyles and even some of our perspectives to some extent. For others, the pandemic has greatly affected their livelihood including their personal and social relationships. For teachers, the usual face to face interactions with students is replaced with various learning modalities to make sure that learning continues despite the threats of the pandemic.

In a survey done by the Davao City Division of the Department of Education, modular distance learning is the most preferred learning modality for the learners from Kinder to Grade 12.

Children are also greatly affected with this sudden change in the educational routine. The learners from all walks of life struggle and adjust to the new normal set-up of education. The usual routine of going to school has been replaced by modular distance learning where in the students learn by themselves. Others have chosen the online learning and learning through television and radio, but still guided by the self-learning modules.

Last March 2022, the students were given the option to attend face to face classes for the first time after the pandemic. It was a good thing to know that majority of the students in Davao City opted to have the face to face classes early on, but they needed to follow certain health protocols to mitigate the threats brought about by COVID.

In the first few months of the implementation of the face to face classes, it was noticed that children in the post-pandemic set-up need more educational attention than ever, especially those who were in the modular distance learning program. They lack the necessary knowledge and skills, since independent learning using the modules are quite difficult for some students.

Too much excitement after two years of not being outside their homes made the students very energetic in class, to the point that it is difficult for teachers to control their behavior and maintain a child-friendly environment.

One teacher said that being a Grade 7 adviser and subject teacher in the new normal is quite different. It seems that the students are too excited to meet their classmates for the first time after two years. Also, their academic performance is alarming because they already forgot the basic concepts in all subject areas. Despite all these changes and challenges, a teachers’ motherly (or fatherly) love towards children prevails.

As we celebrate the National Children’s Month, we remember the school-aged children who are also struggling like us — struggling to adjust in the new normal, and struggling to cope with the educational gap that they were able to experience for two years. These children are the future of our country, thus we must be able to hone and shape them to be the best that they can be.

Of course, as teachers and as the guides of these children, honing them to become the future of our nation is a difficult task to do. There have been a lot of reports and cases that can be read from social media about how the children behave nowadays. I admit, it is quite alarming. Their exposure to violence in social media worsens the situation.

As mature adults, we must be a role model to these children, we must guide them so that they will walk on the right path towards their success, not just in academics, but in life in general. We must teach them to be God-fearing, make them realize that without God, success is impossible.

The children are the hope of the nation, and through our guidance, they will become a better hope of the nation! As guides of these children, we must be patient and we must always be MAD–Making A Difference–in their lives. (Article and Photos by Jeffren Miguel | SFDA SoCCom)