The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the education system worldwide, compelling teachers to adapt to the demands of remote learning.

In the Philippines, there was a heated debate about when and how to start classes in the middle of an untamed crisis. (READ: Back to school during a pandemic: Issues that need to be solved before October 5)

Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive for schools to delay face-to-face classes until a coronavirus vaccine becomes available, colleges and universities in the country implemented “flexible learning” – a type of remote learning that uses a combination of digital and non-digital technology in the learning process. (READ: FAST FACTS: CHED’s flexible learning)

According to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), flexible learning “ensures the continuity of inclusive and accessible education when the use of traditional modes of teaching is not feasible, as in the occurrence of national emergencies.”

Despite this, college students continued to struggle, as many of them did not have the means for decent internet access, one of the most common tools for flexible learning. (READ: No student left behind? During pandemic, education ‘only for those who can afford’)

But one university professor – Rodney Cajimat from the mountainous Nueva Vizcaya province – has a clever workaround.

“Dito po sa Nueva Vizcaya talaga, marami pong area dito na walang internet connection at ang available lang po na signal ay for call and text. Paano po ‘yung mga estudyante ko na walang internet connection?” Cajimat told Rappler in an interview on Tuesday, October 20.

(Here in Nueva Vizcaya, most areas can’t get an internet connection, and the available signal is only for calling and texting. So what can my students who don’t have internet do?)

To address the issue on connectivity, Cajimat started using the conference call – a mobile phone call feature allowing several people to converse at the same time.

“Naisip ko po ‘yung conference call kasi ‘yung mga bata, ang kailangan lang nila ay signal para sa call. At hindi po sila gagastos. Kahit yung tig-300 na phone, makaka rereceive na po ‘yun ng call,” he said.

(I thought of conference calls because it would only require students to have signal for calls. They don’t need to spend for anything. Even a mobile phone worth P300 can receive calls.)

Recognizing the economic impact of the pandemic on families, Cajimat also knew his plan meant he would be the only one spending for phone load, and that his students wouldn’t need to buy smartphones. (LISTEN: [PODCAST] Ang bagong school year sa gitna ng pandemya sa Pilipinas)

Limitations

Cajimat teaches science classes to undergraduates and education courses to graduate students at Nueva Vizcaya State University.

Because conference calls can only admit 6 callers at a time, Cajimat does his lessons by batch and appointment.

Another limitation of the conference call is that it is purely audio, so Cajimat has to send his presentations ahead of time so his students could have a reference during the calls. Fortunately, students only need to go online once a month to download the lectures.

The same rules in a physical classroom also apply to Cajimat’s conference calls, with some tweaks.

“Kapag example mayroon akong tanong, may rule po ako na kapag nasa call magpakilala muna, then I will acknowledge them. And then may rule ako na bawal maingay habang may nagsasalita,” he said.

(For example, if I have a question for my students, the rule is that they need to state their name first and wait for my acknowledgement before they can answer. Another rule is that everyone else should be quiet whenever someone’s speaking.)

Checking students’ mental health

With no end to the pandemic in sight, Cajimat makes his students’ mental health a top priority as well, allotting time to check on how they’re doing outside of their academic concerns.

“Especially ngayon na may mga problema sila, ‘yung outside sa subject nila, napapagusapan din namin kasi ‘yung mental health issues nila kailangan din natin ma-address. Kapag naririnig nila ang boses ko, nahihimasmasan na sila,” Cajimat said.

(Especially now, many of them have problems outside of their classes, so we also talk about those, because we need to address their mental health issues, too. Hearing my voice helps to soothe them.)

Cajimat also gives his students their own phone load cards – some of which he solicits from his friends – so that his students can talk among themselves for group works and peer consultations.

The pandemic may have highlighted the problem of accessible education a thousand-fold, but as long as the country has teachers like Cajimat, there is a greater chance no student will be left behind. – Rappler.com