14/02/2026
Literacy Is Not the Teacherโs Burden Alone
โNo ICT before. No ARAL Program. No summer remediation. No COT observationsโฆ
yet children could already read by Grade 1.โ
So the question quickly follows:
โAre teachers today the ones failing?โ
Itโs a hard question and honestly, a painful one, but it deserves deeper thinking, not quick judgment.
Years ago, the education system was simpler.
The priorities were clear and direct:
the 3Rs, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.
There were fewer reports to submit.
Fewer meetings to attend.
Fewer forms to accomplish.
Less noise and fewer distractions.
Teachers had more time to actually teach.
Students had more time to practice, repeat, and master the basics.
And letโs admit it, discipline was different back then.
Mas mahigpit ang mga magulang.
There was closer monitoring at home.
Gadgets were limited.
Children focused more on books than screens.
But does that automatically mean teachers today are less capable?
Not at all.
Because the world children grow up in now is far more complicated.
Todayโs learners deal with:
โข gadgets and social media
โข endless online distractions
โข different learning styles and needs
โข mental health concerns
โข large class sizes
โข and heavy administrative work for teachers
Modern teachers donโt just teach.
They become documenters, counselors, organizers, coordinators and sometimes even second parents.
Instead of focusing purely on instruction, they juggle paperwork, reports, and compliance tasks that eat up valuable teaching time.
So is it fair to blame one person inside a system filled with challenges?
Hindi makatarungan.
โจ Hereโs the truth:
Literacy is not the teacherโs responsibility alone.
It is a shared mission.
Education works best when teachers, parents, schools, and the system move together.
If there are learning gaps today, it doesnโt immediately mean teachers are incompetent.
Maybe the curriculum is overloaded.
Maybe teaching time is reduced.
Maybe non-teaching tasks are overwhelming.
Maybe children donโt get enough reading support at home.
Because learning doesnโt stop after school.
Reading habits begin at home.
When parents read with their children, comprehension improves.
When families talk about stories, vocabulary grows.
When there is encouragement, confidence builds.
Schools teach the skills.
Homes strengthen the habits.
Doon nabubuo ang tunay na literacy.
Instead of comparing โbefore versus now,โ we should stop romanticizing the past and blaming the present.
This is not about adding more programs.
Itโs not about producing thicker documents.
And itโs definitely not about increasing paperwork.
Sometimes, the solution is surprisingly simple:
go back to the basics.
More time for reading.
More time for writing.
More time for numeracy practice.
Less unnecessary workload.
Support teachers so they can focus on teaching.
Guide parents so they can help at home.
Give students enough time to practice every day.
Because at the end of the day, education is not about pointing fingers.
Hindi ito sisihan.
Itโs about teamwork.
So maybe the better question isnโt:
โWho is to blame?โ
But rather:
โWhat can we all do to make sure every child learns how to read?โ
When teachers are supported, parents are involved, and the system is aligned, children succeed.
Education has never been a one-person job.
It has always been a shared responsibility, para sa bata, para sa kinabukasan.
Ctto
-GalawangFrancisco
