The right to go to a classroom and have access to books and learning materials to enrich one’s knowledge and skills is among the rights of children according to law, but Education has been disrupted this pandemic, with the closure of schools, adoption of modular and online classes, and educators and learners having to adapt to the new normal.
With this unexpected change, it has been a struggle for the teachers, parents, regular learners, but most especially for the physically and mentally challenged children who are in need of special education.
In Tabuk City, Kalinga there are two schools accommodating Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN). One is the Kalinga Special Program in Education (KSPED) Center.
According to Special Eductaion Teacher II Thea Shivonne T. Baculi of KSPED, it has been difficult for educators like her to handle the program because most parents find it difficult to teach their children because of their special needs which only a trained educator could provide, aside from the fact that some parents are non-readers and others have jobs to attend to.
“Narigrigat tatta a modular, kasla kuma nu ikkan mi activity nga awan ti teacher…han kaya i-administer jay parents ta kailangan nga adda latta jay teacher nu ited na jay reading materials, nu awan jay teacher han a ma-implement dagiti parents jay kaya mi nga i-implement,” Baculi said.
As a result, the number of enrollees dropped due to the lack of support, most of the children are eventually struggling and are now falling behind in their education.
Baculi said that they also tried reaching out to the Department of Education- Tabuk (DepEd Tabuk) last year to present their concerns, but unfortunately, the proposed face-to-face intervention considering was not granted considering the vulnerable health condition of the special children, and possible difficulty in observing the protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in the teaching method.
DepEd Tabuk instead suggested that the teachers must provide video lessons for LSENs to view parts of lessons through television, via computer, electronic device, or gadget as a strategic teaching approach under the new normal education. Some learners could opt to study through modular or instructional materials.
Educators then utilized Facebook applications, SMS chat, emails, and hand-held radio as the mode of communication to coordinate with the learners and their parents.
Workloads of the educators have also tripled, with paper works, the printing of modules and worksheets, research through books and the internet, video creation up to the dissemination of activities. Unlike in close physical contact, you can observe, correct any errors, motivate and evaluate the children instantly.
Since classes started this September 2021, the teachers in KSPED have assessed the special children first to know if there is an improvement with their learning under the new normal.
Baculi disclosed that after the assessment, it felt as if they are back to zero and now, they have to reiterate the previous modules given to the special children. They will repeat the basics all over again.
She added, “Tatta nga September idi in asses mi dagituy ubbing mi kasla nagsubli kami ti basic. kasla awan unay naadal da through modules, limmaing da lang nga agsurat surat ta awan gamin ti guide da.”
Some special children, above 18 years old really require a face-to-face assessment to know if they can do their activities through modules. Sometimes the educators don’t have any choice but to meet them at school once a week despite the prohibition.
“Kasla kuma jay estudyante nga ada autism na, papaumayek nu maminsan ta agreklamo ti parents da a handa a ma-handle jay ubing nu ada activities na, karkaru pay ag-tantrums jay uneg ti balay kaysa dituy uneg ti school sunga nu maminsan haan da pay apan alaen ti module da nu haan ko a guide’an nu kastuy a cases ti handle unlike dagidiay dadduma a nalaka nga i-handle dagiti parents,” she explained.
LSENs are the non-graded pupils and students who require special educational needs, those with difficulties in seeing, hearing impairment, behavioural disability, difficulty in remembering and communicating, including those with autism and with behavioural, emotional, and intellectual disabilities.
.png)
Comments