Most Essential Learning Competencies: A Commentary

The most essential learning competencies (MELCs) serve as guide for teachers
to focus on the most needed learning competencies that the students must acquire on a
specific learning area. Focusing on these learning competencies, the teachers may
make well-planned lessons, prepare learning materials such modules, instructional
materials, test materials and other necessary learning aids that the teachers can craft to
facilitate the students’ learning. But though these MELCs are the most essential among
the learning competencies, still the teachers need to have further studies and
considerations as he prepares for the conduct of the lessons.

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World is the learning area
assigned to me, being an English teacher. As I studied the MELCs on the said learning
area, I found out that most of them need lengthier time allotment of lesson delivery. For
instance, the first MELC is, “Writing a close analysis and critical interpretation of literary
texts and doing an adaptation of these require from the learner the ability to identify the
geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history from pre-
colonial to the contemporary.” Before the students could make an analysis of the
different literary periods, he must be able to have a thorough understanding of the
conventions of literary pieces from the Pre-colonial Era, Spanish Occupation, American
Occupation, Japanese Occupation, and Contemporary Period. In these different periods
of literary developments emerged the different literary pieces which were precisely
influenced by the occurrences during each era.

There are also topics that are overwhelming because of its content. Just like the
second learning competency which is writing a close analysis and critical interpretation
of literary texts and doing an adaptation of these require from the learner the ability to
identify representative texts and authors from each region. The task is to make an
analysis. But the topics to be analyzed are broad. On this case, the teacher could make
the necessary adjustment for the students to focus or choose a particular text on a
specific era and make interpretation of it based on its period of development. The
teacher’s ability to contextualize the lessons will be practiced.

I also noticed that there are learning competencies that are supposed to be done
by group. The conduct of the lesson will be more effective if there will be group activities
that will be given to the students. For instance, the learning competency “Do self- and/or
peer-assessment of the creative adaptation of a literary text, based on rationalized
criteria, prior to presentation”, the most effective activities for this are those activities
that are done by group since students learn best if they are given the chance to explore
and discover their potentials whereby partaking ideas among themselves.

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 There are also learning competencies that need ICT skills. For instance, in the
learning competency which is “Produce a creative representation of a literary text by
applying multimedia and ICT skills,” activities here should be creating variations of
literary texts whereby also applying multimedia and ICT. If there is a ready technology it
will be easier for the students to accomplish the said learning activities. But if there is
absence of technology these learning competencies not be attainable for the students.
On this case, the teachers must know first the technology adaptability of the students.
Perhaps, the teacher could contextualize activities for those students who don’t have
access to technology.

As I further studied these MELCs against the other learning competencies of the
said learning area, I noticed that there are still other very necessary learning
competencies that need to look into by the teachers. Since we teachers are the masters
of our craft, we must not just focus on a particular aspect of the learning area assigned
to us. These MELCs are the most essential learning skills. But we must not disregard
the other learning competencies. Consider lots of factors that affect the learning of the
diverse learners. We must apply our knowledge of the Bloom’s Taxonomy of Education
as we devise or contextualize the learning tools and materials that we are going to
produce for our students. Aside from this, Dale’s Cone of Experience must also be
looked into. The learning tools and materials, if possible, must be varied and should
cater to the different needs as well as abilities of learners.

Another consideration is the location of the learners. Since we are in this phase
of pandemic, we must learn how to put our feet on the shoes of our learners. There are
students who reside on areas not accessible to internet connectivity. So, even if they
have gadgets they won’t be able to access the internet because of their location. This
only means that online classes for them is not plausible. Needless to say, though we
are already in the period of social media literacy, still, not all students are having
gadgets to use because of economic factors. In other words, we teachers must also be
aware of the status quo of the students. Moreover, transportation possibility for the
learners should also be considered. Talking realistically, since the beginning of the
attack of the pandemic, transportation vehicles that could operate here in our place are
still very limited. PUVs do not yet operate. Only tricycles are allowed to operate. But
because they could not have full loads for their vehicles there is drastic increase in the
fare rate which is P50.00 going to school since only two passengers are accommodated
in the vehicle. The current fare rate is tripled compared to the ordinary fare which was
then P15.00 only. If the time came that the students are asked to report to school on the
face-to-face basis, and if this will still be the situation of the transportation, I don’t know
if the parents could sustain the finances of their children particularly that most of them
belong to the lower-earning income society in our country. For me, transportation is the
most important factor that we teachers must be aware of considering face-to-face basis
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of carrying out the MELCs. Nevertheless, we teachers are always resilient and ready to
adapt to the different changes taking place in the community.
Since there are lots of factors to be considered as we carry out the MELCs, still
we teachers must always be hopeful that whatever we go through nowadays will still
have ending since the only thing that is constant in this world is change. Time will come
that we will go back to our normal world where we could easily practice our teaching
profession to the students. Though we face a pandemic at present, we should find the
best alternatives for us to carry out those MELCs to our students for I believe that the
future of the young generation is in our hands, EDUCATORS.