Thinking about the future is good, but amid a crisis, all focus should be devoted to the present.
This was the reaction of an education advocacy group after Department of Education Sec. Leonor Magtolis Briones bared that the agency is looking into the possibility of robot teachers.
The issues of today should be the top priority, especially as the National Economic and Development Authority estimates that productivity loss over the next 40 years is going to be around ₱11 trillion for the one year that face-to-face schooling was canceled.
“The future is now. We are already facing an unprecedented scenario. Iyong sinasabi ng DepEd of ‘trying to discern what society will be’ so that education can respond, ito na po iyon. We must respond to the present dahil kinukulang tayo,” Marie Paz T. Abante, president of the Philippine Educators Alliance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Party-list, said.
The education secretary revealed the vision of the newly-established Education Futures Programme during Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s public address aired on Sept. 11.
“Like for example, the possibilities now of robot teachers, which are being studied in other countries. Brain implants, machines, which are so much better than humans, and how can humans remain human in the light of all these fascinating developments,” Briones said.
Abante blasted the DepEd for “talking about robots” when all efforts should be directed towards arresting the further slide of students due to an education crisis exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic.
“Medyo out of touch at insensitive na pinaguusapan natin ang mga robot na papalit sa mga guro, habang ang mga guro natin ngayon ay humihingi din ng saklolo dahil sa hirap at pagod sa pagtugon sa distance learning,” the long-time educator said.
She added that the issues of today should be the top priority, especially as the National Economic and Development Authority estimates that productivity loss over the next 40 years is going to be around ₱11 trillion for the one year that face-to-face schooling was canceled.
This is why the country should conduct as soon as possible the pilot testing of face-to-face classes, PEACE Party-list’s chairman for its Committee on Community Programs, Bishop Rodolfo Juan, meanwhile said.
“PEACE Party-list renews its call for the President to approve the conduct of the pilot testing of face-to-face classes. Not only our present, but our future is at stake. Sana ang gawin ng DepEd ay kumbinsihin ang Pangulo na kailangang kailangan na natin ipagpatuloy ang face-to-face classes,” Juan said.
