The opening of classes which usually happens every 24th of August of every academic year, was postponed due to the Covid-19, the pandemic that flabbergasted not only the field of health but significantly the education around the globe. The Covid-19 pandemic had caused challenges in the continuity of teaching and learning having in mind how to secure the safety of the learners and the teachers. After series of rigorous planning between the Department of Education (DepEd) led by Leonor "Liling" Mirasol Magtolis-Briones, Secretary of Education, and the National Government officials, the rescheduling of school calendar was made possible by a law signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte allowing the movement of the start of the school year beyond August in the event of a state of emergency or calamity. Despite these challenges, the Villaros Elementary School responded to the opening of classes for the school year 2020-2021 on September 13, 2021, securing the learning of 252 enrollees, an experience of challenges and triumph.
It cannot be denied that everyone was surprised by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus it caused a lot of challenges and problems in the continuity of education. Madam Jacqueline A. Estimada, the school principal together with the faculty members of the school made sure that they are ready to face the new normal in teaching and learning process by preparing a very resilient Continuity Learning Plan (CLP) as their guide.
They had taken every single day in preparing for the continuity of education and to cater the needs of every learner, thus the school aims that no Filipino learner will be left behind amidst the crisis while ensuring that delivery of education in time of the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of all learners, teachers and personnel of DepEd.
Having the school's battle cry that no learner will be left behind, the school prepared multiple learning delivery modalities, with blended learning and distance learning as major options. Hence, Villaros Elementary School adopted the Modular Learning wherein the teachers prepared Self Learning Modules and Learning Activity Sheets for the learners to answer. These modules were carefully distributed among learners with the observance of IATF Health and Safety Protocols. The teachers underwent online workshops-seminars to abreast themselves with the different techniques and procedures on how they will deliver their lessons effectively in the middle of the pandemic.
The continuity of teaching and learning amidst the Covid-19 pandemic only proves that no problem is beyond human resolve as long as the key players in educative process that includes the teachers, learners, and administrators, are willing to be transformed and the presence of unity within the school and its communities. Indeed, the school's experience in the opening of classes for the school year marked a successful event in Philippine education history. This event is a celebration of the school for winning the war against the challenges caused by the pandemic and believing that pandemics may come and go, but learning and teaching must push through no matter what.