TAKING A LEAP TOWARDS QUALITY DISTANCE LEARNING

DELIVERY
By: Aida A. Liyagon
T-II
Epeng Elementary School
Epeng, Mayoyao, Ifugao

It is undeniably true that nowadays, we were surrounded with a lot of circumstances that might
totally lower down our level of dedication and eventually cease the fire of our devotion to duty. In our
daily lives, we encounter people who are hard to please and have no other intension but to make other
people suffer. We find others who, on the contrary, inspire us to do better. We were bombarded with
political issues that maybe beyond our comprehension. Here comes this pandemic that has brought great
losses, fear and burdens to the hearts of many.
In spite all these, teachers should keep their minds and hearts focused in upholding their mission
and vision. They must not allow their personal issues and concerns affect the way teaching should be.
They must always remember that children should learn the best possible way they should.
It is only through passion that we, teachers survive the tons of responsibilities shouldered upon us. When
we don’t love our work, it is difficult to overcome challenges especially the present situation in the
Distance Learning Delivery Mode. Hiking for hours in that stony mountain is a giant punishment and
crossing rivers through rafts just to deliver modules and conduct coaching are sometimes considered as
misfortunes. Unless we see the beauty of the thing we do every day, that’s the only time we can freely do
our duties and responsibilities with joy. If we have that burning passion in our hearts, reaching out to
different learners with different backgrounds would be easier. Hiking to our destination would be fun
while crossing rivers will be a good appreciation of nature.
The Modular Learning now a days is somehow even more challenging than having a face to face
encounter with our learners. The difficulty in printing modules especially when your school has only one
or two printers that you need to wait for your turn has become an issue in some schools. Coaching has
been also tough since the teacher must serve as a mobile teacher to reach his/her learners in their
respective homes. Despite all these, lots of mockery and insults have been received by teachers saying
that they don’t deserve their salaries. Yet, teachers never easily give up. Teachers truly risk their lives and
that of their entire family to pursue their chosen vocation; that is to expand the gift of education wherever
and whenever opportunity comes.
Fellow teachers, are you in your lowest moment this time? Are you feeling disappointed because
of your unfulfilled dreams? Or maybe you feel like quitting because the salary you receive does not
compensate all your efforts and sacrifices? No. Never think of quitting. All you have to do is to do your
job with compassion and think of your great contribution. If all your good intentions are unrecognized
here on earth, someone is there to embrace you, and will always guide you to be the best that you can be!

THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF MG TEACHERS DURING THE

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
By: Aida A. Liyagon
T-II
Epeng Elementary School
Epeng, Mayoyao, Ifugao
 To stay in good shape and go through nutty times, an organization needs a gold-mine of
investment-PEOPLE. This is very much true today in our nation especially at these worst times of
pandemic. To make an organization keep going, it must be charged with highly creative and energetic
people who know no boundaries except “change”. People who are highly motivated to find for possible
solutions to arising problems and who never dare to compromise quality to mediocrity. Amidst all the
chaotic scenarios in the society where we belong, these people standing firm, working hand in hand to
achieve one purpose-quality education. They are the unknown heroes: THE MULTI GRADE
TEACHERS OF THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATION.
Without a group of departments working as a team, nothing is possible and the company won’t be
able to deliver a good product or service. Same true with the Department of Education. Without teachers
who are goal oriented and who are packed with so much dedication to duty, the aim of the department
which is quality and globally competitive education would be neglected. Here come the Multi Grade
teachers who were usually sent to far flung areas, places that are not yet reached by the rampant
technology of today. They left their families at home to stay with unfamiliar people in that unfamiliar
place. They won’t mind if they were to be treated strangers by the people living in that place as long as
they fulfil their obligation to draw innocent young people to the light of knowledge and wisdom. It must
painful for them to leave their own children under the care of others just to tender other children who are
not even their blood. Have we realized the essence of what these teachers are doing for the sake of
servitude to people and the nation as a whole?
Today, we are bombarded with lots of papers in front of us-modules because of the modular
learning delivery. I am also a parent to 3 school age children and indeed I am really having a hard time
balancing my role as a Multi Grade teacher and as a mother to them. My children need my presence for
them to accomplish the many activities in the modules but I have to do my coaching to my Grade 5 and 6
learners who need my coaching. I know it is difficult, but there are learners who are facing more
severe challenges than I do. Learners with uneducated parents will need more support than
my children do. It is in my hands to either just let them be or to take a step and reach them
out. Same is true with other Multi Grade teachers in the nation. There are multitudes of
challenges to face.
Self-motivation. Ownership. Engagement. We have always wanted our learners to feel
passion for learning and to be intrinsically motivated—to be driven from within. With much
learning moving to an at-home environment, these young learners’ characteristics are more
important than ever, and the way that we, as Multi Grade educators, frame at-home learning
experiences can have a profound impact on how students feel about them.
This will be especially important for some learners. Consider the barriers that may impact
learning at home: lack of internet, devices, and support. Add to the mix competing priorities
like supporting siblings, having essential jobs, and coping with stress and trauma, and it’s
clear that motivation, resourcefulness, and self-regulation are critical.