Article by: Anton Vellon
Visual by: Zoe Lapada
All around the Philippines, the COVID-19 pandemic affects all the provinces, albeit in different ways. For the most part, many of the areas are under a General Community Quarantine (GCQ), although, there are some areas under a modified GCQ, and even a city currently under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Cebu City. However, even in a GCQ area such as Laguna —a province in the region of Luzon— the virus continues to affect the education of students and their ability to learn.
In order to address this issue, the Department of Education (DepEd) pushed to reopen schools on August 24. Though, this was opposed by President Duterte who refused to allow classes to resume until a vaccine was developed. In order to circumvent the potential drawbacks of reopening schools in regions too early, on July 20, Malacañang Palace —the residence and workplace of the President— announced that schools in certain areas would be allowed to reopen earlier or later than others, depending on the presence of the virus in said region and the status of their quarantine. This, however, stacks with the difficulties shown in various studies, stating that reopening schools for face-to-face classes could increase transmission rates, while at the same time, face-to-face learning is considered more effective for students with special needs.
However, even with the supposed assurance of safety this law brings, criticism still arises from reopening schools at all. While Laguna is one of multiple provinces which is only under a GCQ as opposed to other provinces under ECQ or a modified GCQ, parents and students alike still show concern over potentially risking exposure to the virus. Areas such as the Laguna Beach Unified School District (USD) continuously update their plans to reopen schools on August 24 for face-to-face learning, which both parents and teachers alike approve of.
Despite the support for reopening plans, there are issues at home that prevent that from occurring. Some parents are currently prioritizing finding jobs to pay bills that have stacked over the course of the lockdown, and thus cannot afford to pay for school. According to the National Statistics Office, little over 12% of households have access to wifi in Laguna, with little over 20% accessing the internet from elsewhere. This further increases the difficulties and complications of the blended learning approach that the DepEd is attempting to promote and implement.
In summary, despite the various laws and policies implemented by the President and the DepEd to decrease the risk of viral transmission, it seems that in Laguna, at least, students will not be able to go to classes anytime soon, either because of the difficulties that comes with the Department’s reopening strategies, or more commonly, the affordability of schooling in these difficult times.
Work Cited:
Esquerra, Darryl John. “LIST: Quarantine Status of Provinces, Cities in PH until July 31.” INQUIRER.net, The Inquirer, 16 July 2020, 12:14AM, newsinfo.inquirer.net/1307433/list-quarantine-status-of-different-provinces-cities-in-ph-until-july-31.
LAGUNA BEACH USD | Reopening of Schools Webinar July 8, 2020, Laguna Beach Unified School District, 8 July 2020, resources.finalsite.net/images/v1594374058/lagunabeach/tpcn6fww1aaomtvold8u/ReopeningofSchoolsWebinar070820.pdf.
Magsambol, Bonz. “No Student Left behind? During Pandemic, Education 'Only for Those Who Can Afford'.” Rappler, Rappler, 18 July 2020, rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/education-only-for-people-who-can-afford-coronavirus-pandemic.
Magsambol, Bonz. “New Law Allows Duterte to Start School Year Past August during Calamities.” Rappler, Rappler, 21 July 2020, rappler.com/nation/duterte-signs-law-allowing-adjustment-school-opening.
Rey, Aika. “Senators Unanimously Approve Proposal to Delay Start of Classes.” Rappler, Rappler, 1 June 2020, rappler.com/nation/senators-unanimously-approve-proposal-delay-start-classes.
“Table 9. Number of Households with Internet Access from Home or Elsewhere for the Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities: 2010.” National Statistics Office, National Statistics Office, 2010, psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrelease/Table%209_PR_Philippines_housing%20tables_0.pdf.
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