The Department of Education (DepEd) is planning to limit and synchronize the workload of students amid concerns raised by students and parents on distance learning.
The DepEd has acknowledged that it would be difficult for students to accomplish activities or assessments of eight subjects which could cause “burnout.”
“Kailangan po yata i-remind ulit namin, ire-reiterate naming ‘yung dating policy tungkol sa homework na hindi naman lahat ng subject mayroong homework. Baka kailangan din na hindi naman lahat ng subject ay may activity na kailangang tapusin bawa’t araw (We reiterate the policy that not all subjects are required to have homework. Maybe it is also unnecessary to have activities to be accomplished every day per subject),” DepEd USec. Diosdado San Antonio clarified.
The DepEd assured that the assessment of teachers on the performance of students will not be affected with the adjustment of student workload.
A groups of teachers have also welcomed the move of the DepEd to avoid stressing out students. However, they appealed that educators should not be left out.
“Dapat ding isipin ng DepEd na paano naman ‘yung ating mga teachers? Paano naman ‘yung mga guro na sobrang taas, sobrang dami ng mga trabaho na dahil din po rito sa new normal (The DepEd should also take into consideration the teachers who have heavy workload due to the new normal),” Teachers’ Dignity Coalition Chairperson Benjo Basas raised.
Psychologist Camille Garcia explained that the behavior of a child will be affected once they experience burnout wherein they might become irritable or have tantrums.
“Ang punto lang po rito ay may matutunan. Hindi kailangang mag-isip na paano magiging honor [student] ‘yung anak ko, paano magiging ganito. Hindi po, Ang kinakailangan po natin, pahalagahan na may matututunan ang mga bata (The point here is for them to learn. We should not pressure them to be honor students or the like. We just need to make sure that the child is learning),” Garcia advised.
– Report from Kenneth Paciente
