Challenges Encountered by Selected Grade 9 Teachers In Teaching Music in Modular Distance Learning

Covid-19, a highly contagious virus that would fundamentally transform the path of our daily lives, was sadly introduced to the world at the end of 2019. The outbreak resulted in the abrupt and complete closure of in-person schools and private teaching for classical musician students and teachers according to (Chen, 2021). The current COVID-19 crisis has obliged most education systems to adopt alternatives to face-to-face teaching and learning. The shift of the teaching-learning delivery in schools to modular distance learning made it more challenging, on the part of the school personnel, the delivery of basic quality education. That is why DepEd leaders are always finding avenues to solve problems and capacitating their teachers and school heads to become more effective in the field of modular distance learning (Bagood, 2020). Even while flexible learning is prevalent in other countries, there are significant changes in the teaching-learning process in Lucena City, which creates unique difficulties in teaching delivery. The researcher aims to identify the challenges encountered by selected grade 9 teachers in teaching music in distance learning specifically in modular distance learning for public high schools for they are the one who has a limited internet connection to conduct an online class. This study is considered a descriptive/quantitative investigation. The questions primarily focused on the challenges in the preparation of lessons, delivery of lessons, assessment of learning, and strategies used in teaching music. Results indicated challenges encountered by the teachers, unnecessary online meetings in public schools were minimized because of the capacity of some of the parents and students to have an internet connection and gadgets to use, instead of the utilization of localized materials, teachers opted for the materials provided by the DepEd, provision of rubric may be compromised in the name of efficiency because of fairness and feedback. With some of these challenges, the researcher crafted an action plan which will help the students, teachers, and the school. The action plan is about tapping or involving the Local Government Unit, Non-Government Organizations, and Stakeholders to provide the school the gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops so they can adopt the new mode of learning because no one can tell when this pandemic will end.