FROM HOME Narratives of learners

March 2020, Ponciano Bernardo High School (PBHS) shifted away from face-to-face instruction and toward other modes of instruction, including modular distance learning (print and digital), online distance learning, and blended learning, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PBHS learners have suffered greatly because of the abrupt shift in educational practices from traditional instruction to distance learning. PBHS had considerable success setting up various learning delivery modalities, but it has been acknowledged that the sudden migration from traditional learning to remote learning has caused a lot of difficulties, especially as voiced out by the learners. PBHS started implementing the progressive expansion phase of face-to-face classes in February 2022. Then, the school resumed the traditional five days of face-to-face classes on August 22, 2022. This was based on Vice President Sara Duterte’s initial order as concurrent secretary of education. Through the Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 34, S. 2022, Duterte issued the directive released on July 2, detailing the calendar of activities for the school year 2022-2023. Resuming face-to-face classes under the new norm requires extensive preparations since schools that offer face-to-face instruction must meet the requirements of the School Safety Assessment (SSAT), a directive issued by the interagency task force on safe school reopening (Philippine Joint Memorandum Circular 1, s. 2021). Hence, the government and school administrators need to ensure that the school reopening will lead to normalcy rather than contribute to the COVID-19 surge. However, the enormous task lies with the teachers, who are at the forefront of the reopening of classes. Hence, I am inspired by the purpose of describing the difficulties in distance learning as voiced out by the learners. Likewise, I find it important to understand the difficulties faced by teachers when classes resumed following the COVID-19 closures. PBHS learners and teachers reflected on the difficulties they ran into teaching and learning at home and in school.