NEWS | Left unaddressed
Despite adjustments in academic calendar, students said last semester’s difficulties were carried over
By Angela Vanessa Manuel
The second semester of the academic year (AY) 2020–2021, which officially started last March 1, is the second-straight time that the University of the Philippines (UP) System implemented the distance learning set-up. Students expected that the University will be more prepared now to conduct classes as the last semester initially served as a transition period for the new set-up. However, the implemented adjustments in the academic calendar this semester were deemed insufficient by students as they were not targeted to solve the real problems of the current learning set-up.
Organized but problematic
Upon the implementation of a distance learning set-up, as a response to the pandemic which confined people in their own homes, it already faced backlash for further widening the digital divide among students. During the first semester of this AY, students and faculty alike voiced out their concerns posed by online classes such as unstable internet connectivity, lack of access to software resources, and unreasonable workload. Now, one month into the second semester, students stated that they are still experiencing the aforementioned problems.
A second year student of BS Public Health noted that there were improvements in terms of operations, particularly that coursepacks were given earlier and professors are now more knowledgeable on how to navigate Zoom and Canvas. Despite this, he pointed out that there are still problems that are left unaddressed such as retention and appreciation of the subjects.
“Marami samin (me and my friends), although nakakapag-aral at nakaka-score naman nang mataas sa exams, ay hindi nare-retain yung knowledge. Bumaba rin yung appreciation sa mga subjects kasi mygad kung hindi mo sobrang naintindihan ang lessons, hindi mo rin maiintindihan ang applications nito,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, AG, a student from Development Studies, argued that the course packs may be considered substandard as they serve merely as syllabus which will be complemented by synchronous sessions.
“Course packs are nothing special. Hindi sa ganitong paraan madadaan ang edukasyon kung compassion ang pinaka kailangan sa ganitong panahon. Hindi epektibo ang maghanap ng alternatibong hindi naman inklusibo lalo sa gitna ng pandemya,” AG furthered.
Duly noted by UP admin
For over a year, students and various sectoral organizations were keen to make sure that their calls were heard by both the University administration and national government. To their dismay, the education sector is still stuck in implementing a distance learning set-up which causes students to be left behind.
To show that they are heeding the studentry’s call, the University administration implemented a few adjustments in the conduct of the second semester. Two of the main adjustments were the shortening of the semester and the imposition of a fixed reading break. While students commended the actions from the administration, they reiterated that these are not the main solutions to the deteriorating quality of education in the distance learning set-up.
The decision to cut the duration of the second semester, from 18 weeks pre-pandemic terms to only 15 weeks this semester, were condemned by the students. They noted that its main downside is that students are now simply fulfilling requirements instead of actually learning.
“A shorter period may mean shorter suffering, pero ibig sabihin non super condensed ng mga lessons for that sem. Right now, I’m feeling na sobrang rushed ng sem na to na ang ginagawa ko lang ay aral, test, kalimutan, move on tapos paulit-ulit lang yon. A shortened semester means that there is less time to actually study or teach the subject so mahirap to both teachers and students,” the student from Public Health said.
In addition, AG questioned some of the professors’ honor and excellence, the University’s motto, as they remain inconsiderate of the students’ well-being.
“Kahit gaano kahaba o kaikli pa yan, hangga’t may naiiwan, hindi ito magiging mabuting desisyon. Nakokompromiso ang lahat ng bagay tulad ng physical at mental health kasama ng napakarami pang responsibilidad. Dagdag pa rito, nasisiksik ang mga aralin at requirements,” AG explained.
Meanwhile, the University implemented fixed reading breaks on April 29-May 5 and March 25–27 & May 20–22 for those with a split-sem schedule. Contrary to the first adjustment, the reading break was welcomed warmly by students. Their only wish is that this break wouldn’t be manipulated by professors and be disguised as a period to fulfill additional requirements.
“Ano nga ba talaga ang reading break? Break mula sa readings? O break para paliguan ng readings at requirements?” AG asked.
Roadblocks to face-to-face set-up
In separate virtual college town halls held before the start of the second semester, University officials announced that they are pushing for the resumption of face-to-face laboratory, clinical, and hospital duties of the students from medical and allied health programs in the upcoming Midyear term. They confirmed that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) already approved their request, which is the first step in the actualization of the plan, but they are still awaiting the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
While students acknowledge that face-to-face learning is better and more effective than online classes, the risks of contacting COVID-19 amidst the recent surge in cases are stopping them from looking forward to its resumption.
A second year BS Pharmacy student said that as someone with immunocompromised family members, she is not willing to risk their health just for school. Furthermore, the student from BS Public Health echoed the same sentiment saying that the current surge is larger than the past.
“The PGH sits right next to the white colleges? Safe ba talaga?? Are the precautions really that good? One case that goes unnoticed can infect a whole class. Are they going to provide vaccines to us, knowing sobrang risky not just within UPM but also outside? Pero hindi rin natin alam kung ang mga vaccinated ay hindi na nakakapagdala ng virus. It’s dangerous,” he furthered.
Moreover, AG shed light to the plight of medical professionals as she said, “sana naman ay hindi dahilan dito na sila ay inuna upang gawing pamparami lang ng workforce para sa pandemya given na naaabuso ang kakayanan ng healthcare workers. Paigtingin natin ang panawagan para sa kanilang kalusugan din, mga benepisyo, at sahod. UP at PH Government, alagaan ninyo ang inyong estudyante at ang sambayanang Pilipino!”
The administration earlier announced that there will be a triage area prior to entering the campus and that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided. However, students would only be tested if they are suspected to have COVID-19 based on symptoms or possible exposure to the virus from COVID-positive patients, and not on a regular interval.
Addressing the real problem
As students weigh their overall experience in the first month of the second semester, they called on the administration to give more emphasis on the students’ well-being and take into account what the students really need.
The Pharmacy student explained that the University, particularly some of its professors, should give more due consideration to those who are actually having difficulty with this distance learning set-up due to various factors such as internet issues, home environment, mental health.
Likewise the student from Public Health said that the University should strive to match the amount of load per semester to the amount of load students have, taking into account that for the most part students are forced to self-study.
“Para ma-improve ang lagay ng edukasyon, sana dinidinig ang pangangailangan at kalagayan ng mga estudyante at faculty. Sana tunay din ang pag-aabot ng tulong para sa mga estudyante. Hindi dapat natatapos sa mga band-aid solutions ang pag-improve, dapat ay ma-acknowledge na ang alternatibong distance learning set-up ay napakalayo sa katotohanan ng pagkatuto. Higit lalong dapat pinangangalagaan ang seguridad at kalusugan ng mga mag-aaral sa lahat ng aspeto,” AG expressed, as she deemed the distance learning set-up ineffective.
