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As the country grapples during these times, teachers from the private education sector suffer major financial distress due to the decreased enrollees causing permanent closure to some affected schools.
Truth be told, none of us expected the coming of a health crisis. An invisible enemy forced people into an atmosphere they call New Normal. I find it ironic what defines New Normal, because it ticks all the boxes of what looks like “New Abnormal” to me. For more than a year, this can be reflected in scenarios like: 1) The rising number of COVID-19 death tolls around the world; 2) The gearing up of face masks as part people’s daily apparel; and 3) Many people face financial losses as most businesses and institutions have been permanently closed.
Educators behold the dangers of another global risk—a compromised academic situation. The COVID-19 served as a turning point in the lives of many including the education workforce. From traditional face-to-face classes to remote learning modalities, teaching professionals strive to bridge the education gap amid the horrors of pandemic. The new education paradigm stunned the majority of the student population, putting the education sector at the forefront of challenges in the New Normal sphere. In addition, private school teachers face the pre-existing issues such as subpar internet service, unreadiness in tech equipment, and disadvantaged budget for resource-sourcing among others. Along with these, many of them battle the fear of getting infected but continue to go to schools for their virtual classes and distribution of modular materials, so as to gratify the necessity for education.
During last month’s conference, the Department of Education Secretary Leonon Briones reiterated the vaccination rollout for new priority groups including public school teachers starting mid-May to June. According to her, the enrollment will begin in that period followed by numerous academic activities. Thus, protection from the government remains in high demand.
Andrei Cronico, a private school teacher for 4 years, expressed sentiments about the previous announcement. “As a private school teacher, I feel relieved that vaccines will be given to public school teachers because they (we) are really vulnerable. Also, I am still uncertain about getting inoculated because I want to settle for higher efficacy vaccines.”
Contrary to popular knowledge, most private school students are from low- and middle-income families. As non-state institutions, private schools’ bloodline sustains from the collected student fees. With the pandemic in place, school fundings in the private education sector depreciated due to the unfavorable circumstances faced by most Filipinos. The significant financial losses cut teachers' salaries into major proportions and some have lost their jobs due to their school’s permanent closure.
“On behalf of DepEd, I would like to express our admiration, our prayers, and good wishes for our heroes in this situation,” DepEd Secretary Leonon Briones stated in a press conference last March 2020, a manifestation that the woes of teaching professionals and essential workers remain in the shadows of the government's COVID-19 response.
Should their hard work be celebrated?
Or do they deserve more than ‘admiration, prayers, and good wishes’?
“I think the government should provide adequate amelioration programs to aid the private education institutions (and workforce). Lahat naman tayo (ay) apektado.” Cronico shared his dismay on the lack of financial aid and programs for those in the private sector who are also grappling in these times.
As infected cases continue to rise everyday, teachers bravely go to schools for distribution of learning materials amid compromising their own safety. Another private school teacher, Pearl Bulalacao, highlighted the role of educators amid the pandemic, “Bilang (mga) teachers, kami rin ay nagsisilbing frontline workers. Napakalaki ng maitutulong ng mga guro sa pagpapayabong ng kaalaman ng mga Pilipinong mag-aaral sa kabila ng pandemic.”
The indomitable dedication of educators carry out the mission to spark knowledge in their young students even with the threats of a deadly virus. However, this is the time for them to gain limelight as the coming months lead to an uncertain direction. As the hope of the nation lies within their hands, they need the best support they could get—first, by hearing their clamors and addressing the wroughts
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