This 82-Year-Old Lola Will Continue to Learn And Go 'High-Tech' To Teach

SmartParenting.com.ph, together with Summit Original Videos, presents E-skwela 2020, a video series that showcases how families, students, teachers, and schools adapt to crisis schooling. Each episode will premiere on the website every Tuesday and on Facebook on Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Follow our Facebook page here.

 The opening of the new school year is challenging not only for the students and parents, but also for the teachers who are facilitating online classes for the first time. But as our E-skwela 2020 series proves, teachers will do anything to ensure that no student is left behind amid the pandemic, including quickly learning the ropes of distance education, no matter their age.

READ MORE STORIES ON DISTANCE EDUCATION

• DepEd Releases TV Schedule And Channels To Watch Lectures
• Checklist Of Skills Your 5-Year-Old Needs To Learn In Math, Reading, and More

On social media, the story of Leticia Bautista, an 82-year-old retired teacher and the owner of St. Anne Child Study Center in Rodriguez, Rizal, quickly went viral after her granddaughter shared a photo of her attending orientations and meetings via video call.

“My Nanay has been an educator her entire life,” writes her granddaughter Aika Bautista in a public Facebook post. “Now at 82 years old, I see her trying to learn the new normal of teaching. She, who has been asking for my help to chat and post on Facebook, is now attending orientations and meetings virtually.”

She adds, “For someone who has lived in an era with practically no computers, I am so proud to see her adapt and fulfil her passion for education."

In an interview with Summit Original Videos, Teacher Leticia, as she is fondly called, shares that even if she is already retired, it’s still a must to learn how to conduct online classes so she can provide for and address the needs of their teachers and students.

“I really try my best to prepare for them so that the teacher will be comfortable. I also remind teachers to be always at [their] best because [they] have to attract the student,” Teacher Leticia says.

Aika hopes that by sharing the inspiring photo of her Nanay, she can also uplift teachers who are stressed with online learning and also appeal to students and parents to be more understanding toward educators. After all, it is a struggle for both sides.

“Kung ‘yung mga teachers nga natin napakatiyaga sa atin noong panahon na hindi tayo marunong magsulat, hindi tayo marunong magbasa, maging matiyaga rin tayo sa kanila. Hindi rin nila gamay ‘yung mga online gadgets, mga conferencing na ‘yan as much as we do,” she says.

Watch Teacher Leticia’s story below and share with us the challenges you and your children’s face in the new school year.

READ MORE STORIES ON DISTANCE EDUCATION

• DepEd Releases TV Schedule And Channels To Watch Lectures
• Checklist Of Skills Your 5-Year-Old Needs To Learn In Math, Reading, and More

What should you expect in the new school year? Click here for DepEd's latest guidelines.