III. Problems and Challenges Identified III. Problems and Challenges Identified

The Department of Education’s declaration to proceed with the school years in the future has left our small community in great distress Barangay Dila is one of the countless areas affected by the distance learning set-up, among other problems that the pandemic has posed upon every family This pandemic has hit our working families hard with the dilemma of prioritizing their children’s education or putting enough food on the table With the financial insecurity experienced by these families in the barangay, PK understands how providing proper pen and paper -- let alone a smartphone or a working computer -- would be a great challenge against online learning. This truth, although devastating, is a reality for most families today. However, Project Karunungan believes that education should not just be for those who can afford these luxuries but should be a right for everybody.

PK is an ever-evolving project that started from consultation from youth organizations studying members and trying out donation programs to child development centers of the DSWD (previously called daycare centers)

It started with joining DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela and helping institutions in preparing classrooms for the incoming school year: cleaning classrooms, clearing grasslands, and painting rooms and decors in order to have a better learning environment for the incoming students. The first installment of PK debuted the partnership of SK Dila with Bayside Youth Organization (BSYO), an active youth CSO in the community, and LBC Express (express delivery, shipping, and courier services) by donating learning equipment to the three daycare centers in the barangay. Together, SK Dila, BSYO, and LBC, through the PK program, had given 90 enrolled students a television set, playing mat sets, books, and other learning materials to aid them in their preparatory education

With the second installation of PK, SK Dila leveled it up by working with several partners, volunteers, and donors in order to prepare and combat the challenge of the new normal of education during a threat of a pandemic -- this led to the innovative change of PK into a consultative, more inclusive program for uplifting education in the community.

The abrupt change in the education system in our country gave PK a lot of challenges to battle in order to survive:

a. Lack of Awareness of the Community

Data of Awareness of Students and Parent on Blended Learning Set-up[2]

(New Normal Set-up) based on the survey conducted by the Sangguniang Kabataan: With the ongoing and lingering attack of coronavirus in the Philippines, DedEd modified the learning system of schools to keep students safe - learn at home DepEd conducted a massive information campaign about the transition of education to the “new normal” in all forms of media. However, the depth of understanding of every parent is different from what DepEd (educators) understood. While they were having continuous Zoom meetings and series of training online in conducting the new mode of learning, adults were left with the idea of becoming the teachers as their students will be doing the learning/studying at home.

Even though DepEd dispersed the information on new normal quickly and widely, far-flung areas did not have the access to all this information They remain innocent or confused about what is going to happen to their students; if there is still school Even though PK had an IEC during the first quarter until the second quarter of 2020, not all adults at home are literate in reading (even in Filipino) Moreover, those parents who can read both English and Filipino did not clearly understand the difference between home-based learning and homeschooling.