ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER ON EDUCATION

Submitted to:
Dr. Armin Rubi
Davao del Norte State College
New Visayas, Panabo City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

FATIMA Y. MAHILUM

MST – BIOLOGY I

November 25, 2020

Crisis

It is said that education is a lifelong process and it must continue no matter what

adversities may come into the lives of people. Educational institution, as prime movers for the

provision of learning opportunities and resources to our learners, must be dynamic in finding

ways to address the challenges in relation to education.

In the Philippines, the current global health crisis and the adversities it brought to

mankind greatly affects our educational system. According to UNESCO (2020), the pandemic

affects the school system worldwide, for 87 % of world students’ population was distraught due

to school closure. In our country, one must look into the welfare of 27 million learners. These

learners must be provided still with quality education as what been promised by the vision and

mission of educational institution.It is reiterated by UNESCO that “Education cannot wait. If

education stops, we will lose human capital”.

In relation to this, with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of

Education anchored with their program Sulong Edukalidad, is faced to deliberate a different

type of learning modality that will still deliver quality and accessible learning opportunities to

diverse learners despite of the occurrence of this public health emergency. This is not just

applicable to public educational institutions, but also for the private and tertiary institutions.

According to DepEd Order NO. 018, series 2020, the department must develop the Basic

Educational Learning Continuity Plan (BE LCP) to ensure that education is still provided to

learners in a safe manner with alternative learning delivery. This sought the department to

utilize the alternative delivery modes or the self-learning modules wherein it does not require
the learners to attend school face-to-face. It is self-paced and self-instructional yet an

interactive learning resource.

Moon (1988) describes module as a self-contained learning resources, a unit of teaching

activity and learning expressed as an approximate number of hours of study. This kind of

modality have already existed in earlier years and this was also the result of B.F Skinner’s and

other’s researches way back in 1950s. The use of modules was anchored by the principle of

programmed instruction such as the division of subject matter and interactive participation of

learners in a self-paced manner.

According to Balderas (2016), the use of modules has encouraged learners to value their

study time and use it efficiently. It also blends theory and practice, thus requiring learners to

read, analyze and reflect on their learning. Instead of reading the material passively, learners

interact with the module through the series of self-check activities, assessment and reflection.

With the urgency of the use the modular approach in teaching-learning process, it is

proven in earlier years that this approach is equally effective and efficient towards students’

learning. It facilitates an experiential and practical learning that help learners in the real-life

scenario. (Housen & et.al, 1986)

Self-learning module has become an ideal learning resource and is now a priority in

remote learning where a teacher is unable to provide constant instructional supervision and

guidance in the classroom setting.

In adherence to the use of Self Learning Modules as part of the learning continuity plan

of the department, the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCS) was developed. It is the

competencies which provides life-long learning that equip learners with the necessary skills to

survive in the real world and achieve their goals.

cut the K to 12 standards, but it is meant to lighten the weight in transforming the classroom-

oriented learning resources into a distance learning modality instruction. Together with the

academic experts and field implementers, the bureau made a thorough review of the K to 12

curriculum competencies to extract the most essential one.

According to Secretary Briones, the curriculum review was not just made to fulfil the

rules and regulations as mandated by the Republic Act 105333, but it is the departmental

commitment to ensure quality education for all in adherence to UNESCO’s goal amidst this

global crisis. The review has led the department to identify the gaps, issues, concerns across

the different learning areas.

The department made necessary preparations to be ready in the opening of school year

2020-2021. Series of review with academic experts, conduct of dry runs for the different

distance learning modalities and the preparation of learning continuity plan of every school

were made to ensure the quality of instruction for this school year. As with the directive of

President Rodrigo Duterte, our educational system has shifted to distance learning until the

vaccine becomes possible. Distance learning is when teachers and students are geographically

remote from each other during their classes. This means lessons are delivered outside the

traditional face-to-face set-up, through a mix of modular learning, online learning, and TV and

radio broadcasts.

Cario (2020) emphasizes that among the different distance learning modality being

tested by the department, the use of self-learning module seems to be the most effective and

applicable modality in every locality of the country. It was discovered that self-learning module

is the most comfortable mode to learners in majority of schools in the region.

when gadgets are unavailable and when an area has slow internet connectivity. Considering the

current status of all school-aged children, not all families have the financial capability to

purchase gadgets to be used in online classes. Aside from that, not all areas in the country has

a strong internet connectivity.

Herrera (2020) said that the country has the slowest internet speed in the world and still

charges high rates for it became one of the most essential commodities nowadays due to the

public health crisis. With these assumptions, it makes the self-learning module as the most

applicable modality for distance learning for this generation of learners under this pandemic.

Last October 5, 2020 was the kick-off of the opening of classes for school year 2020-

2021. As stated by Secretary Briones, “Education must continue: we should strive harder

despite the challenges”, wherein 22.5 million of public schools in the country started school on

that day. The department has produced self-learning modules for those 59% learners having no

internet access. These self-learning modules could be in print or in digital form to suit the need

of the learners.

On the course of the implementation of the self-learning modules, many questions had

been raised on its efficacy in the delivery of instruction to every learner in the nation. There

were some issues about the content of modules, its suitability to the learners’ intellectual

capacity and readiness and the need to assist the learners in the completion of the said

modules.

The department has recorded 34 errors in the content of the self-learning modules.

Eighteen of these errors came from the DepEd field units and fifteen from unidentified sources.

These errors have resulted from wrong options in multiple choice tests, the colors of printing,
the appropriacy of words and there were also images that were overstretched. Due to this,

those modules were subject for erratum. (Gonzales, 2020)

In my own perspective, the errors made in the self-learning module had arise due to

time constraints. During the outbreak of the pandemic, it immobilizes people for many months.

Many essential operations in the different departments were slowed down. As a result,

necessary preparations for the construction of modules were not optimize, these include the

construction of assessments, alignment to competencies and the printing itself. In making self-

learning modules, there are a lot of components that must be considered to ensure its quality.

According to Toohey (1999), one of the key components in designing a module is the

monitoring and review. It must undergo quality assurance to ensure the appropriacy of its

content and to detect errors in terms of its content, assessment and printing. Other thing to be

consider is learning outcomes, what type of skills that the learner will get upon completion of

the module.

Donnelly and Fitzmaurice (2005) also stated that in modular design, one must ensure

the formative and summative assessment enclosed in the module.

Dochy (1989) also stressed out that learners must be the important consideration in

modular instruction. The student must have his own pacing by which it may allow the learner to

skip modules if they already have knowledge on that specific topic. That’s why module has pre-

test on it, if the student achieves a passing score, he may skip that section.

According to Hughes (2002), unique needs of learners must also be considered. With

this, contextualization and localization come into play. In designing modules, one must realize

that not all learners have same access to any resources that will help them in the course of

learning. Indigenization must be also considered in letting the students learn using their
available learning materials at their locality. This will help them understand the concept clearer

since the materials used is already familiar to them. Hence, if a student learns at their own

context, it will promote a life-long learning that will help them understand the real-world.

The discussions stated above only proves that self-learning modules is a complex

process in terms of its preparations. With a meager time given to educators to prepare the self-

learning modules in all subjects and grade levels both in elementary and secondary learners, it

is undeniable that some errors are committed. However, it is the responsibility of the

department to manage these errors and correct it for the benefit of our learners. If possible,

there should be no room for mistakes since it the welfare of the youth that we are handling.

Self-Learning modules could be effective and appropriate learning resource to the

teaching learning process in this crisis if there’s a constant feedbacking and assistance between

teachers, students and as well as the parents. Since our learners nowadays are home-schooled,

parents have a great role in the process. Students should be guided and monitored to ensure

that they are really reading and answering their self-learning modules. If the student finds

difficulty along the way, parents may help them in making them understand. If not possible,

parent may seek help from para-teachers. They are the persons in their community who has

the skill and knowledge that may help them in the completion of the self-learning module.

As teacher, it is our great responsibility to constantly monitor our learner’s development

during the completion of the self-learning module. Even without our actual presence in giving

assistance to our learner, we can help them through reaching out using cellphones, e-

messaging apps or even go to their houses as long as we adhere with the IATF protocol.

The teacher must also prepare localized activities to test whether they have really read

and understand their module. It is our task to provide them with authentic assessments that
will test their learning and understanding. Authentic assessments should be used to promote

worthwhile, significant and meaningful learning.

As long as the students have taken responsibility to their learning, we can survive this

school year amidst this crisis. We can overcome this if everyone is accountable to their

respective roles. The government, school administrators, teachers, student, parents and the

whole community must work hand in hand to achieve our common goal. It is said that it takes a

village to educate our child, hence everyone of us has our own role for this.

According to Nelson Mandela’s famous line, “Education is the most powerful weapon

which you can use to change the world”.

We can do this, this Covid-19 pandemic cannot stop us! Education must continue.

Sulong Edukalidad!
Bibliography

Dochy F, Open Univ. H, (2013). And O. Modularization and Student Learning in Modular
Instruction in Relation with Prior Knowledge.
Husen Torsten & et.al. (1986). The International Encyclopedia of Education Research
and Studies. Second Edition, Thousand, Oaks, and California, vol.7 Corwin Press,
Inc. Thousand, Oaks, and California. PP.3886-3894
Hughes, C. (2002). Issues in supervisory education. Studies in Continuing Education, 24,
57-51. Institute of Behavioral and Applied Management.
Moon, Bob (1988). Modular Curriculum. London, Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd. PP.8-9,
52,84
Websites:
https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/07/02/deped-prepares-self-learning-modules-for-
educations-new-normal/
https://commons.deped.gov.ph/MELCS-Guidelines.pdf
https://search.proquest.com/docview/2428321186?accountid=31259