DECLARING a state of learning crisis will enable the Philippines to mobilize the energy of stakeholders so they could concentrate on tackling challenges in the education sector.
Dr. Edizon Fermin, vice president for Academic Affairs at the National Teachers College (NTC), told the BusinessMirror that by doing such, all agencies concerned with the education sector can collectively address the multifaceted nature of the crisis.”
Fermin said that by “declaring a state of learning crisis,” even ordinary citizens could take part in the discourse on accessible and quality education. They can do these, he said, by volunteering in similar efforts like community-based literacy programs and others that “will increase [chances of our learners to cope with the crisis’ complexity].”
The private sector, according to the NTC official, would be a vital partner, as there have been noteworthy public-private partnerships focused on addressing perennial problems in terms of access, quality and relevance. He also emphasized that the collaboration should be supported by a “comprehensive education-crisis response framework” that can be produced following a multistakeholder approach.
“While partnerships are okay, the government should also address the complementarity between public and private education, especially as the latter has suffered a lot of losses during the pandemic,” said Fermin.
The NTC executive also urged the government to support local learning-solutions providers, as they have the expertise in developing alternative learning methods such as virtual classrooms, telecommuting and work-from-home setups.
He also pressed the government to still implement the hybrid-learning scheme, as this is the direction of education around the world in the new normal.
“All recent meta-analyses and policy analyses around the world that explain the direction of education in the new normal articulate that hyflex [or hybrid-flexible] learning is the way to go if we were to maximize the gains in terms of learner engagement, teacher upskilling and school resilience,” said Fermin.
For C&E Publishing Inc. Chief Operating Officer John Emyl G. Eugenio, interventions in the education sector should be efficient without compromising the intended positive impact on learners.
These are achieved, he explained, through smart, technology-based methods: “As we have seen with online learning today, [they make] best use of time for students as well as parents.”
Eugenio endorses the firm’s “adaptive learning solutions” as one of these learning methods, then said the 30-year-old firm has a strong record of introducing adaptive, innovative and resilient education solutions.
The firm, he noted, has expertise in creating integrated solution systems for learners, teachers, parents, administrators, researchers and education technologists.
“Most important, C&E—as a family-owned institution—has deep regard for the Filipinos’ pursuit of meaningful and transformative education,” he shared. “Their values system is an inspiring source for people wanting to contribute to the critical collective that can change education for the better.”