Going beyond the four walls of the classroom to enable continued learning for children has become a major challenge for many schools during this time of the pandemic. No matter what delivery mode education has had to take on nowadays, many seem to be in agreement: learning can never stop.

For the young Sama-Bajau children residing in Parañaque City, classes have re-opened on September 7, 2020 to welcome a promising new school year. Cartwheel Foundation, through its partnership with Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region and the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Parañaque, is on its second year of sustaining the Education and Child Development Program for these young learners.

 

Home-based classes

If the Sama-Bajau children had to walk a short distance from their home to the Activity Center-cum-classroom in the past to attend classes, they just have to remain in the same building of their residence while on community quarantine. Their families who live together and remain very supportive of their children’s education have agreed on a common area that they have turned into their home-based classroom. Despite being small and simple, it has been set-up to be a safe space for the children where they know they can freely play and learn together with their peers.

Coordination between teachers

As of the writing of this article, 18 children have enrolled. They are divided in two groups, with the first shift at 7:30-8:30AM and the second at 9:00-10:00AM.

Teacher Faida Faisal, also Sama-Bajau herself who resides in the same area as her students, meets with the class four days a week. Teacher Marilyn Bayona, senior instructor who used to team-teach with Faida, gives instructions to the learners via online platforms or simple audio call from time to time. It has been Faida who has been leading the class in-person during this quarantine. Both teachers meet every Friday morning to plan and coordinate lessons for the coming week.

 

Safety measures

Apart from leading the learning sessions, Faida also takes charge of ensuring that those who attend class adhere to basic safety precautions—body temperature is regularly checked, face masks are required, physical distancing between the children repeatedly reminded. Parents have also been cooperative and helpful in the practice of these safety measures.

Cartwheel extends special thanks to Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation for the provision of personal protective kits for each of the current program learners.

Though the set-up may be new and quite unfamiliar at first, the children’s active participation during class as supported by their parents is an encouraging affirmation—despite the limitations of this time of quarantine, learning never stops.