After a few days since the opening of classes, some parents air their frustration over the conduct of distance learning using the DepEd learning modules.

The Bohol Tribune managing editor Ardy Araneta-Batoy relayed her experience in her FB post regarding the kind of lesson delivery this blended learning style is impacting both parents and children brought about by distance learning through the use of learning modules.

She expressed her experience in an FB post on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020.

Seeing her FB page, netizens stormed and supported Batoy’s post with comments generally mirroring the frustration of parents over their children now their “learners”.  

Parents shared with Batoy their experiences over the distance learning process using the learning modules.

The parents also shared with Batoy their frustrations about balancing the need to work and finding time to tutor the learner.

Moreover, the parents claim that their capability to tutor their children is not as sharp as it was before.

The post as of late yesterday afternoon, Oct. 10, 2020 generated 321 reactions, 259 shares and 177 comments done mostly by parents airing their side over the learning modules.

The Bohol Trinune is publishing the entire grasp of the parents’ comments in the “Vox Populi” section of this paper found on page 11.

On Thursday, over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa radio program hosted by Batoy and Gloria Leodivica Araneta, the Department of Education (DepEd) Asst. Bohol schools superintendent Dr. Marina Salamanca, tried to address the parents’ complaints.

Salamanca, in the interview, said the learning modules are intended for the learners and should not be answered by the parents.

She said there is a need to develop in the learner the responsibility that he/she is responsible for her own learning and should be left alone to do understand the module and do the worksheet.

The DepEd official said that learners learn by doing. However, but Batoy, a retired professor, countered by saying that before “learning by doing” is achieved, there has to be a “learning by knowing” experience. You can’t do what you do not know. Batoy said that one can’t learn what she does not understand.

Batoy pointed out that with the present set up, learners may have questions about the modules that could not be answered by the parents, which brings to fore the role of teachers in this type of learning environment.

Salamanca said that if the parent is not capable of making the child understand, the parent may seek the help of the neighbors who are better off than the parent in terms of teaching capability. Or, Salamanca added, the parent may report the matter to the teachers so that a teacher facilitator will be hired by DepEd.

Salamanca pushed for learning facilitators who may help the learners and the parents who are tutoring thejr children.

Moreover, the parents, through their comments insisted that almost every parent expressing frustration over the learning modules should be given the right support from the teachers or learning facilitators.

The DepEd official explained that the distance learning method may be mainly modular but there are other modalities that will be introduced later because there are teachers who are creative. The teachers may also use the television, the radio or some gadgets to deliver the lessons.

However, the suggestions of Salamanca are better said than done, the parents said. With the parents’ complaints over the distance learning method, the DepEd central office may look for solutions to make it easier for the parents to teach and guide the learners and the learners to gain knowledge through the modules.

Salamanca said the local DepEd people are monitoring the problems being encountered by parents and learners and bring these issues to the attention of the higher authorities within the Education Department.

Batoy suggested that an interaction with Salamanca and some parents is necessary for the DepEd to listen to the gripes of the parents for possible solutions.

Batoy added that parents are not expecting Salamanca to solve the problem immediately by herself. Batoy believes that a an open mind is needed for this particular issue instead of local DepEd officials simply saying, “We are only following directives from the top.”

Some parents’ comments also pointed out errors printed in the modules. Others complained about the time table given to answer the worksheets. There are also parents who say that they are having difficulty squeezing time out from their schedules as parents and now as mentors.

Meanwhile, Gloria Leodivica Araneta, who is a professor herself, suggested that the teachers should walk the extra mile to ensure that the learners are able to understand the modules well.

NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SLEEPING LATE ON YOUNG CHILDREN

In a related development, one of the parent’s complaints is the change of the sleeping schedule of their children since the latter are spending more time late in the evening as this is the only best time that the parents could monitor their children in their study period.

Parents say that as soon as they arrive in their respective homes, they don’t immediately attend to the study period of the children as they still do the household chores.

Parents added that while it is true that children should be left alone to do their modules, the children could not help and could not be prevented from asking questions from their parents while the latter are doing the household chores. As a result, both parents and children find a common time for the lecture of the modules late in the evening thereby inevitably changing the sleeping habits of these children.

City Health Officer Jeia Pondoc, when asked about the sleeping habits of children said that sleeping late as a result of studying late into the night and until early morning may have a negative impact on the children.

She said it may lead to stunted growth if the kids continuously study late at night or are unable to follow a regular bed time.