TEACHER VOLUNTEERS. Village officials and volunteers in Barangay Poblacion, Burgos, Ilocos Norte are busy in gathering feedback and other concerns about the opening of classes on Wednesday (Oct. 14, 2020). The barangay unit acts as a helpline agent and drop off as well as the pickup point of modules for learners in the village. (PNA photo by Leilanie G. Adriano)
LAOAG CITY – Learners who are having a hard time accomplishing their modules at home can now have a lifeline if their parents are unable to assist them.
In Burgos, Ilocos Norte for example, the local government unit here led by Mayor Crescente Garcia tapped unemployed teachers in the municipality to assist learners in the primary grade.
Poblacion village chief Joegie Jimenez on Wednesday said at least two teacher volunteers were assigned in their village to check on children at home if they can cope with the current modular or blended learning program of the Department of Education.
“We have children in the village whose parents are busy working. So, if they need assistance, we have volunteer teachers to guide them,” said Jimenez in an interview.
Barely a week since the opening of classes, several parents and learners in the province have already expressed their discomfort with the ongoing delivery mode of instruction due to unstable internet connection.
For a working parent like Eve Calumag, she said she is hesitant to leave her children at home but she has no choice.
Unlike when the children were in school, Calumag said she is more at ease, knowing that the school has teachers watching over them.
“There were times when I get a call at work from my daughter complaining about her unfinished online activity because of poor internet connection and I can not do anything to help,” Calumag said.
With modular instruction, some learners especially those in kindergarten and first grade are also hard up in the Mother Tongue Based-Multi-lingual Education system because the learners and even the parents themselves are not familiar with the Ilokano language.
In times like this, residents are thankful for teacher volunteers who come to the rescue of struggling young learners. (PNA)
