Written by: Julie Rhee
Visual by: Zoe Lapada
The Coronavirus pandemic is arguably the most dangerous and widespread virus that humanity has faced in the last few decades, impacting the majority of the world’s population. Covid has caused the loss of millions of lives and infected many millions more, but it has also caused the greatest disruption to education in history. Approximately 1.6 billion students in over 190 countries have been compromised by the virus, and 94% of the world’s student population have been situated amid closures of schools and other learning institutions. This has been especially devastating in low and lower-middle-income countries, where 99% of students have been and continue to be affected.
In the Philippines, public education was in bad shape even before the COVID-19 pandemic, and even more so now, due to school closures and the discovery of the new coronavirus variants. In what many have claimed to be a terrible response to the pandemic; President Duterte announced that students in the Philippines will not attend school until the vaccine for COVID-19 becomes available to all Filipinos. The result has been the world’s longest Covid lockdown. While students are receiving education online, children from remote, lower income communities do not have access to the technology which would enable them to learn well. This has sparked national concern, as parents worry for the future of their children and their country.
The new variant of Coronavirus, COVID-20, has been estimated to be 50% more easily transmitted than the original COVID-19. The United Kingdom, which has been most affected by the new variant has closed their schools for a second time. The government of the Philippines has recently reported that a passenger carrying the new variant landed in the nation, and this has caused additional unrest. Especially, as the common variant has yet to be contained and the vaccines are still widely unavailable in the archipelago. While the country’s Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer-BioTech vaccine and has plans to acquire 25 million doses of the newly-developed coronavirus vaccine from China by the end of February, the new variant spreads at an unparalleled rate. This has led many to believe that schools will remain closed until after the vaccines have been distributed.
The Coronavirus has undoubtedly impacted the educational system significantly – but it is more than that. People in the most vulnerable situations have been most affected, and there have been millions of student dropouts. Dropouts which many lower income families have blamed on not having the ability to spare another income. Sadly, this crisis will extend well into the future, and future generations beyond that. It should also be noted that many students rely on their schools to receive food rations and shelter, highlighting just how the closure of schools has impacted the least wealthy citizens of the country. It is important to remember that for many people this pandemic has meant the end of their education.
Works Cited
Castle, Stephen, and Mark Landler. “Britain Re-Enters Sweeping Lockdown as Virus Variant Rages.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Jan. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/01/04/world/europe/uk-lockdown.html.
“Global Report: Philippines Says Schools Won't Reopen until There Is a Covid-19 Vaccine.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 9 June 2020, www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/09/global-report-philippines-says-schools-wont-reopen-until-there-is-a-covid-19-vaccine.
Punongbayan, JC. “[ANALYSIS] Why We Need to Safely Reopen PH Schools as Soon as Possible.” Rappler, Rappler, 18 Dec. 2020, www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-why-we-need-safely-reopen-ph-schools-asap.
Suresh Dhaniyala Bayard D. Clarkson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, and Byron Erath Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. “How to Stay Safe with a Fast-Spreading New Coronavirus Variant on the Loose.” The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2021, theconversation.com/how-to-stay-safe-with-a-fast-spreading-new-coronavirus-variant-on-the-loose-153292.
The Jakarta Post. “Philippines Extends Travel Ban over New Virus Strain.” The Jakarta Post, www.thejakartapost.com/seasia/2021/01/15/philippines-extends-travel-ban-over-new-virus-strain.html.
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