By Rusieljs G. Lunasco
Dr. Merle Junsay has been the Dean of the College of Education since 2015.
For College of Education Dean Dr. Merle Junsay, one of the most rewarding things about her job is the opportunity to lead teachers and future teachers and make a difference in their lives.
Dr. Junsay’s career in teaching spans 25 years. She first started out as a Mathematics teacher and coordinator at Sun Yan Set High School from 1996-1999. She then transferred to Central Philippine University Junior High School where she was also teacher (1999-2010) and coordinator (2001-2010) for the same subject. She eventually became Dean of the College of Education in 2015.
She graduated her Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics from Central Philippine University in 1994 and completed her Master of Education major in Mathematics from the University of the Philippines Visayas in 2001. She then finished her Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education at West Visayas State University in 2015.
Dr. Junsay has also been involved in several organizations. She currently serves as one of the Board of Directors for the Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators Region VI. She was the Auditor of the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) Iloilo Chapter from 2015 to 2017. She is also a mentor to young writers as one of the moderators for Centralite, the university’s official yearbook.
Many sectors have been greatly affected by the pandemic and the academe is one of them. Dr. Junsay shares that the college has encountered many challenges in terms of enrollment and implementation of classes.
“The real challenge lies more on the actual implementation of the online mode of instructional delivery. Even if teachers were trained on how to use the learning management system, we discovered that there are still more pressing problems beyond the knowledge on the use of canvas. Dealing with the issue of low internet connection for both teachers and students alike is a challenge that until now, we still have to face. Absence of clear-cut guidelines during the initial execution of online classes added to the burden. Curriculum issues like overloaded activities occupied a huge chunk of students’ bucket list of challenges. Assessment was a big challenge and still is, as integrity and validity of exams are burning issues that we educators still have to deal with. However, the biggest challenge, I believe is how to attain the outcomes that we have set for our students to attain amidst this pandemic, especially the exemplary Christian education that our university’s vision heralds,”
Despite the difficulties they have experienced, she says they were able to surpass them through the grace of God. She also added that the pandemic has given her the chance to contemplate and there are a few realizations she has learned that she would like to share to her students.
“My dear students, like you, I have been thinking a lot why, this pandemic happens…why during this time when you are supposed to enjoy the fullness of life.
Please allow me to share with you some of my reflections:
1. Life goes on. We may be experiencing the worst this time but I want to believe that there must be a purpose why God allowed this pandemic to happen. His wisdom is beyond ours.
2. This pandemic has given me a lot of lessons to learn from:
a. Health is as important as life itself. When I say health, it refers not only to physical health, but to all aspects of health: emotional, mental, social, spiritual, etc. So take good care of your health. Our health is directly related to our lifestyle. Let us take time to re- examine our habits and practices. Wellness matters.
Remember, the challenge of the time is…only the HEALTHY ONES will survive.
b. Human life is fleeting, so capture each moment and make the best out it. We had known how a friend who requested for a prayer the other day for healing wasn’t able to respond to a message the next day, only to find out that she passed away that night.
c. This pandemic is a call for everyone to love, to care, to help and to enrich relationships, especially with our families.
d. We have to learn to value things that really matter: health, family, God, relationships
e. We human beings are fragile by ourselves. We need one another. In order to solve our problem, we need to work hand in hand.
3. This pandemic provides a purifying experience to all of us, in almost all aspects of our life. When airports were shut down and everyone was at home, we saw the lingering beauty of the clear skies, the inviting breeze of beaches and the consummate brightness of flowers. More than this however, is the re-examination of our health habits
4. Realize that you have more time to reflect and make meaning of your existence as a human being. Pray for enlightenment that you may be directed to the purpose that God has for you. My dear students, make sense of the experience…learn from it. If we do not learn, we have wasted the sacrifices we made for 15 months.
5. We know that all of you are struggling with your studies. Please know that we, your teachers care about you more than you realize. Please reach out to us. Let us know about how you do. If your teachers do not respond to you or you feel that your teachers do not care, please let me know.”