Kathleen Silvino | The Capitol
Posted on November 28 | 11: 00 AM
With the pressure of being one of the last countries to bring back face-to-face classes, the Commission on Higher Education released Memorandum Order No. 16, which calls for all Philippine colleges and universities to end conducting full online classes. Students will go on to full-blast face-to-face or hybrid learning by the second semester to keep up with the two-year absence of the conventional setup. Nevertheless, the return of the traditional classes will not erase the fact that our country has one of the worst education crises in the world.
All in a rush and one blow, ready or not—higher education institutions need to follow the order from the higher people even though it may sacrifice the quality education that all students deserve. Indeed, we are already left behind by other countries, but why do we need to push something for which we are not prepared?
As we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, academic institutions must be more organized and think about educational matters as well as the safety and health of students and professors. However, some schools still do not have a concrete plan, making their system slow, and guidelines and protocols unclear. With this, students may not only have deteriorated learning but also have higher health risks.
Just like in primary and secondary school, inadequate rooms and facilities are one of the main problems that some higher education institutions have during this first semester, while online classes still belong to the learning modality. Classroom shortage leads to other class sections not having a permanent learning space. It is like these students are informal settlers as they always need to evacuate to an available room that can be occupied. In some unfortunate circumstances, when there are no available classrooms, professors and students do not have a choice but to conduct classes either in the hallway or a small stock room that does not have proper ventilation.
The unorganized and inconsiderate scheduling of subjects is also considered a conflict. Besides the fact that it is one factor why there are unavailable rooms, it also affects the social distancing inside the campus. There are class sections that have the same schedules and dismissals. Therefore, the instance of it is canteens, comfort rooms, and other facilities can be overcrowded. Also, it puts a burden when it comes to the financial state of the students. As inflation continuously wallops, the transportation fare and other necessities come with high prices, so it is not reasonable to let students attend only one subject per day.
There are many problems that schools still face, such as overworked but underpaid professors, overcrowded curricula, insufficient resources, late announcements, etc.
With all these challenges, students do not have a choice but to follow because even if they amplify concerns that should be addressed, there is no chance for them to be heard due to the belittlement remark of being JUST STUDENTS, as these academic institutions strongly act visually and audibly impaired. They also pretend they are prepared to cover up their negligence and not hold embarrassment. But isn't it more embarrassing that students experience the complicated system and the not-so-bare-minimum education the schools give?
To provide a quality education—that is every academic guild's goal. Hence, it is not right for the students to receive poor treatment inside the campus. They deserve more than just physical classes. They deserve a systematic learning environment. If all institutions really do have a heart for students' future, it is not a choice to rush things only to go back to the traditional setting. Let the full face-to-face classes remain optional until these problems are resolved.
No adequate learning space. No quality education.
No definite plans. No full-blast on-site classes.
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