The “New Normal” disrupted every sector and education was not spared from the
uncertainties brought by this paradigm shift.. Social, political, labor, and economic sectors were
shaken. Education was not spared on this onset. In view of the foregoing, the following
problems/challenges are being faced by the government’s trifocal education bureaucracy:
Fundamental is the migration of the teaching and learning process into digital. The
Philippines is now faced by the so called “migration” of teaching. The onset of the COVID-19
pandemic compelled the president to suspend face to face classes until a vaccine is available. This
is not tantamount to an academic freeze but an advent of different modalities in education and
hence a migration into digital form of education. Re-tooling of teachers amidst this crisis is of
paramount consideration. LGUs down to the barangay should also be tapped to reach the “last mile
schools” in case there is barrier of technology. This is based on the belief that “no student shall be
left behind”.
Second would be student protection and safety. The disruption of face to face classes
would also mean that students would be heavily engaged into the internet. We all know that the
internet is a big help in this digital age and yet the cyber world could also be a dangerous place for
our students. As educators, may we be teachers or administrators we also value our students’
protection and safety. The disruption in face to face teaching brings us the problem of student
safety in the cyber world. Proper training among teachers on the perils of cyber world and parents’
orientation would be a big help in securing protection for our students.
Needless to say; senior faculty members, specifically those who were not inclined with
using gadget and integrate technology in their pedagogies will certainly react in a downbeat
manner. To address this, psycho-social support is fundamental, followed by a needs-assessment
on the depth and breadth of their knowledge to the gadgets and platforms that can be used in the
“new normal”. It is through this that we can gauge to where we could start helping them. Finally,
technical assistance should be provided to them as aid in their transition. to the “new normal” in
teaching.
This onset calls for a transformational leader who can speak to communicate and
disseminate in a digital and agile environment. A transformational leader who has the
negotiation skills to establish agreements among subordinates and last would be a
transformational leader who has a vision to lay in the direction of education amidst this
pandemic.