Challenges of Education for the Underprivileged: A Classroom Teacher’s

Perspective

By

GILBERT R. DE LUNA
Teacher III, Magsalisi West E/S, SDO Jaen South Annex

The Philippine public school system is mandated to provide basic education for all,

the dictum is that no one should be left behind, that every school – aged children

should have access to free education (As determined by the Education for All

Agenda of the Unite Nations, 2011).

A classroom teacher in a public school in the Philippines is tasked with the burden of

educating the less-privileged pupils, teaching the poorest of the poor so to speak.

There are several challenges presented therein as pupils from the economically-

challenged families often lack the most basic goods, and therefore paving the way

for insecurity of the children to set in, effectively withholding the development of self-

confidence among the pupils. The late former secretary of DepEd, Raul Roco said

once that the mere shame from being poor would effect the desire of the pupils to go

to school and study.

There are some heart-breaking issues within the rural elementary schools, where the

ground reality is totally sad and poor (Nanda, 2015). A classroom teacher is the first

line of defense of these less – privileged pupils. A teacher therefore needs to

address these issues. Yes education should be universal as its wont, however, how

to educate a pupil who couldn’t even bring a simple lunch to school, much less wear
a decent uniform, is totally a different story. The teacher of course should be able to

treat every pupil in equal footing, but especial dedication and attention should be

given to those with so much less.

There are several issues that a teacher has to contend with in teaching the poorer

pupils, foremost among them is absenteeism due to various reasons, health issues,

lack of food and sustenance, and basic school supplies. These issues may really

affect the scholastic performance of learners having that situation. Absenteeism is a

problem that needs understanding to cope this problem rooted by different factors

and many reasons and one is the economic status of the family of learner which by

being poor. From financial constraints other problems may arise such health issues

of the learners or its family member due to lack of financial ability to buy healthy

foods or even to be checked by a doctor. Addressing these issues are beyond the

means of an ordinary school teacher, extra efforts are given to those pupils, but then

again, the teacher, with his or own financial limitations cannot provide for pupils

needs.

A teacher is always dedicated to his or her pupils. But the desire to teach the

necessary competencies and learnings to the pupils who are constantly absent from

the classroom would prove to be a challenging task, and would therefore need

intervention measures if the teacher and the school want to deliver its goods

(learning) to the pupils.

A teacher is helpless when it comes to issues of poverty within the community, and

no matter how charitable the heart of a teacher is, it could only go so far. These are
governmental issues. One just has to extend extra mile for the less-privileged pupil,

to care more, to love more.