Cops tutor children amid new normal of learning

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – In a bid to help parents educate their children in the new way of learning amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, personnel of the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc) initiated Project T.U.T.O.R. in the province.

Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Manongdo, acting commander of 2nd Nocpmfc, told Daily Guardian yesterday that five elementary pupils were assisted by his personnel at Barangay Dulao in Bago City and Barangay Gargato in Hinigaran town.

TUTOR project means “Talakayan at Ugnayan Tungo sa Edukasyon sa bagong nORmal,” which aims to encourage children to invest in education despite facing difficulties brought about by the health crisis.

“Parang supplemental lang kami kasi their parents cannot focus on teaching them because of their jobs to support the family,” Manongdo said.

“Through this project, we can inspire children to give importance to education. Malaman nila na ang pulis ay willing na mag assist at magturo din sa kanila,” he added.

Manongdo said that the five beneficiaries of the project were selected based on the background of their families.

“We cannot entertain everyone so those who we think really need assistance were selected,” he said.

The project started on Oct 5, 2020 when classes began nationwide, wherein students were advised to engage in distance learning in lieu of face-to-face interaction.

The children just go to the camp or headquarters of the Nocpmfc in their respective areas in their convenient time, Manongdo said.

“Minsan kasi may pinapagawa din sa kanila ang magulang nila, so kung kailan sila available, pumupunta lang sila sa camp kasi within the proximity lang naman,” he said.

He said that he assigned one policeman to every pupil. The cops then helped them answer their assignments and make them understand their learning modules, he added.

The tutorial session is usually being conducted for two hours, he said. Proper health protocols are observed before the tutorial.

In a span of more than a week, he said that they received positive feedbacks from the parents of the children in the community.

“They (parents) are happy kasi we’re here to supplement, to help the kids kasi wala ng time yung iba sa kanila,” he added.