Some people are raising a howl over the delays in the implementation of training for teachers to be deployed for the upcoming elections. Basically, they are worried there may not be enough time to sufficiently orient the teachers on how the new systems works.

One particular group called Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers or ASSERT fears that the teachers are being set up as scapegoats. For what? In case confusion and other problems arise during the conduct of the elections, they say. Here's an excerpt from an ab-cbnnews.com report:

“This is a new process, one that needs to be thoroughly understood and should not be haphazardly taught or hurriedly implemented,” said Fidel Fababier, secretary general of the Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT).

Fababier highlighted the need for immediate training, especially "that not all teachers are familiar with computers, much less as tech-savvy as their students."

While I can understand where they're coming from, I cannot say I agree 100% with the basis for their concern. I agree there really is a need for the teachers to thoroughly understand the process, but I don't think not being tech-savvy should be an issue here at all.

The automated system involves computers and it would certainly help if the teachers are familiar with the technology. However, I don't think they need more than a day of tech-training for that. After all, the teachers will not be deployed to serve as technicians. As far as I know, their functions with regard to the actual voting would still be limited to ensuring that the procedures are followed. These include helping people find their names on the voters list, jotting down names, handing out ballots, helping those who may need assistance, and applying indelible ink on the fingers of those who have already voted. Not technical at all.

Anyway, the Commission on Elections has already announced that their training will start in March. Now, I'm with ASSERT and the other teachers groups when they say that this is a bit too close to election day. With about 245,000 teachers to be trained, I sure hope the Comelec has more than enough people for this. Perhaps, Comelec should also consider making use of video to support their teachers training program. What the commission can do is produce a training video to be distributed in CD packages and to be uploaded to YouTube and other popular video sharing sites.  That way after the teachers have completed the actual live trainings they can just watch the video to review. If done properly, the video may also take the place of actual trainers just in case.