Editorial | NEW NORMAL’S NEGLIGENCE
by Eufia Lo
While the privileged continue to thrive amidst the ‘new normal’, those from the marginalized sectors are hardly getting by due to a lack of resources. After the shift to online learning as a protective measure against the COVID-19 pandemic, the education of most Filipino youth has been gravely affected. In fact, according to an article from Inquirer, there has been a 25% increase in student dropouts this academic year.
Just 3 weeks ago, numerous student groups criticized Education Secretary Briones for insisting on the continuation of the academic year despite the health crisis at hand. However, in response to these comments, Briones tells student groups, “See you in hell”. This seemingly evident lack of compassion and concern from the Education Secretary herself brings forth alarm and raises the question of whether or not the department is, in actuality, putting all its efforts in the fulfillment of its main task: ensuring that education is provided for each and every Filipino.
During a pandemic, it is a rule to use school closures as a way of protecting children and “flattening the curve”. This norm was shaped by a number of studies, including an analysis of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic that showed that the earlier a city closes schools, the lower its death rates will be. At present, distance or online learning is considered the ‘new normal’ for education systems, and these can be classified into two modes — either synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous sessions are conducted through live video meetings with teachers and students, while asynchronous classes involve students learning on their own using the modules provided by their institutions. A great number of schools have also adapted a mix of these two modes alternately as well to maximize student learning.
Through this new system of learning, students are given a better chance to learn at their own pace. As explained in Open Education Database, distance and online learning offers flexibility since it fits one’s own schedule. This is proven in an interview by Manila Times with students from various universities as one stated that they are able to “adjust their pace on studying based on how fast or slow they can understand a topic”, unlike in face-to-face classes where they have to follow the pace of the teacher’s discussion.
However, despite all its advantages, this new learning system provides a number of disadvantages as well, especially for a developing country with a significant underprivileged population such as the Philippines.
Online classes require stable internet or mobile data connection and a device that can support so. Evidently, Wi-Fi connection in the Philippines is both expensive and slow. In fact, the Digital Quality of Life Index 2020 ranked the Philippines 84th under internet quality and 79th for internet affordability. More than 47% of students have access to the internet, but these students commonly experience technical difficulties. One student speaking on behalf of many said in an interview with The Manila Times, “Having a choppy signal on a professor’s end or background noise is inevitable. In online meetings, since live, there are likely chances to get disconnected, resulting to us (the students) missing the lecture.” With such problems, how then can a student learn at their own pace if their learning depends upon them being able access these lectures and learning modules that are, for the most part, provided online if their internet connection is unreliable?
Aside from the instability of Wi-Fi connections in the Philippines, an even bigger problem lies in the great contrast among those who can access the Internet, especially in less urbanized areas. A Manila Times article reports that only 26% of public schools are connected or are able to connect to the internet and nearly 5,000 public schools in remote areas do not even have access to electricity. DepEd’s solution to this was the implementation of asynchronous learning through modules. However, this then led to more workload for teacher as they prepared these digital and print modules to be delivered to students. As such, even more resources such as paper and printers are required to successfully push through with this mode of learning.
The modular learning process also requires guidance of a parent/guardian which, unfortunately, not all students have at all times. In the middle of a health crisis as severe as the COVID-19 pandemic, the priorities of most Filipino families are focused on maintaining their survival instead of keeping up with education. According to one mother who gave a statement to Rappler, “Our focus for now is just to live, because right now we really have nothing.” As of August, a survey said that 45.5% of the country’s adult population have lost jobs, half of whom lost due to the pandemic. Additionally, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on September 2020, most parents living in rural areas “aren’t confident in teaching their kids”, as they themselves have not been able to complete their education. Truly, not all parents are capable in guiding their kids as they are “no read, no write”, especially those in remote areas.
As of September this year, it was reported that 3 students committed suicide due to the pressure online or distance learning brings. One common ground these students faced was struggle linked with bad signal and not enough money to purchase load for data. This only shows how rotten our existing education system is as it remains to be commercialized, colonial, and elitist-oriented, working only in favor of those who can afford the right resources.
At the expense of pushing through with this ‘new normal’, real quality education is sacrificed, neglecting the right to proper education of the marginalized. Struggling students resort to selling nude pictures, numerous ask for money online and commissions. Should Filipinos really accept this ‘new normal’ as everyday reality?
Collectively, students must advocate for Ligtas na Balik Eskwela instead of an academic freeze so that no student — and teacher will be left behind. Through various platforms, all students and teachers must urge the government to administer a proper medical solution against COVID-19 to make safe all schools as well as to ensure that quality education — the new normal’s negligence — is accessible to all.
