Written by: Mildred Yeo Wen Min
Visual by: CJ Limjap
“I’m sorry, I cannot gamble on the health of the children,” the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte responds when questioned by the Education Secretary, Leonor Briones, whether he would be open to resuming face-to-face classes in an interview held back in June 2021. Since March 2020, students in the Philippines have been subjected to attending classes online.
The physical environment in which a student studies in is an important factor for them to develop their learning abilities and understanding in different subjects. Ideally, a designated location with proper lighting, seating, a clean and tidy desk, and a quiet surrounding would maximize a student's learning capability. This allows the student to pay attention during online classes and have a clear mind while working. For privileged students, this kind of space can be easily replicated at home. However, many local students in the Philippines do not have these luxuries or even essentials, contributing to them giving up on putting their best foot forward in classes, and in dire cases, dropping out of school altogether.
Kristian Navales, a 3rd Grade science teacher, explains how a typical lesson for his online science class would go about. He holds the online session via Facebook Messenger however, less than half of his 43 students have access to a device. The main obstacle is gaining access to the internet as most of the students are unable to have a stable connection - mobile data is not enough for video calls. Often after classes, Navales would visit some students who struggle to keep up with their studies and help guide them through their work.
Studying virtually does not only affect the younger students in the Philippines, namely bringing university students their own set of struggles. An 18-year-old college freshman, Erika Marie Custodio, plays an online game, Shopee Bubble, to earn virtual diamonds in exchange for prizes. In this case, Erika is determined to earn enough diamonds in order to get a tablet to use during online classes as she is currently stuck using her 5-inch cell phone screen. She states, “My eyes are strained and my back aches from sitting in the corner for a long time but I don’t have a choice...By the end of the day, I am totally spaced out.”
As the number of hours on the screen increases from schooling online, the number of mental and physical health risks students encounter also rises. Decreased in-person interaction with other peers has been proven to have an influence on a child or adolescent’s emotional and cognitive development. The lack of quality education online will also affect a child’s ability to read, write and develop critical thinking skills. Most importantly, students are unable to get support for their mental health which is often provided by in-person mentors.
Fortunately, according to Reuters, as of September 20, 2021, Duterte has approved 120 schools for a 2-month pilot run of face-to-face classes in areas deemed as low-risk for COVID-19. While the effects on younger generations will undoubtedly be felt even years from now, continuing the state of quarantine guidelines will only further educational inequity.
Works Cited:
“Coronavirus: Philippines Faces ‘Learning Crisis’ after Year-Long School Shutdown.” The Straits Times, 15 Mar. 2021, www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/coronavirus-philippines-faces-learning-crisis-after-yearlong-school-shutdown. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021.
Gotinga, JC. “More than 2 Million ‘Dropouts’ as Schools Adapt to Pandemic – Gatchalian.” Rappler, Rappler, 16 Sept. 2020, www.rappler.com/nation/gatchalian-says-millions-dropouts-schools-adapt-pandemic. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021.
“In the Philippines, Distance Learning Reveals the Digital Divide | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Brussels Office - European Union.” Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, 2020, eu.boell.org/en/2020/10/06/philippines-distance-learning-reveals-digital-divide. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021.
“Why Are Schools Still Closed in the Philippines?” Thediplomat.com, 13 Sept. 2021, thediplomat.com/2021/09/why-are-schools-still-closed-in-the-philippines/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2021.
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