DepEd: Parents will not take place of teachers

As classes are set to formally open on October 5, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reminded parents and guardians that they will not be taking the place of teachers.

As the nation starts to shift to a distance learning approach, many parents and guardians have expressed their frustration and exhaustion tending not just to their work and the household responsibilities, but also to their children’s education as well. According to DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan, they should not feel the need to assume the role of educators in its entirety.

“This should be very clear to parents because their role is to motivate, provide the learning space, and give feedback to the teacher more than doing the teaching themselves,” emphasized Malaluan. He also stressed the importance of adapting to the routines and requirements associated with distance learning.

“I think one of the first steps for psychosocial preparedness is knowing that this is a challenging time and we have to set our minds to some more responsibilities than we used to have,” added Malaluan.

With netizens airing out their challenges adjusting to the new modality of education, the DepEd was urged to suspend classes or what is referred to as an “academic freeze”. In a virtual press briefing, Malaluan rejected such calls as these go against DepEd’s goal of promoting learning continuity.

In August, the Department of Education moved the opening of classes from August 24 to October 5, in a bid to respond to the implications of having a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) enforced in Metro Manila and in certain provinces. The time freed up will be used by DepEd to “provide relief to logistical limitations” by areas under the MECQ.