CED sends practice teachers to Balinese, Surakartan schools

Text by Jerome L. Duque

Poster by Mr. John Paul Q. Gordovin

Due to restrictions in cross-border mobility, the Tarlac Agricultural University - College of Education (CED) has opted to endorse 13 of its students for a virtual practice teaching stint in Indonesia.

Three Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) students are now serving as online teachers in Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (Undiksha) in Bali.  Diana M. Vitacion, Dan Gabryel T. Sembrano, and Sarah Micah A. Esteban are teaching science subjects to junior and senior high school students of Undiksha’s secondary department, SMA Negeri 1 Singaraja. Another BSEd student, Irene D. Isip, is carrying out her duties at SMP Islam Al-Azhar 21 Sukoharjo.

“Indonesian students are very respectful. They are attentive and participative in classes, too,” Ms. Esteban commented. Meanwhile, Mr. Sembrano said that even in a short span of time he was able to adapt to the ways of his students by stepping out of his comfort zones. “I also interacted with them and discovered that even though we may have a lot of differences in culture, we share many similarities like our love for learning,” he added.

Meanwhile, six students were referred to Christian Kindergarten Pelita Nusantara Kasih in Surakarta. Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students namely: Angielyn Q. Fabros, Elma A. Carrera, Princess Robie D. Artates, Mary Ann Polinar, Lyka-Lyn Ydrazel J. Dela Cruz, and Joe-Anne Y. Valente are still observing classes but are expected to collaborate with their respective cooperating teachers this month. Moreover, Bachelor of Elementary Education students, Mikee G. Velasco, Shaira Cara J. Dela Cruz, and Jayrose R. Capulong are accomplishing their tasks at SDII Al Abidin Surakarta.

Universitas Sebelas Maret, one of TAU’s partner higher education institutions in Java, facilitated the students’ teaching stretch in Surakarta.