NEWS | UPM students firm on call for mass promotion
By Ysabel Marie S. Vidor
Schools and universities were subjected to delve into the realm of virtual learning as a global health emergency leaves the academe with no choice. While the rest of the world is forced to adjust due to the pandemic, the Philippines unfortunately suffers again from a series of strong typhoons in the last few weeks aggravating the situations of both the students and the teachers. Numerous colleges and organizations in the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) unite to call for the ending of the semester in hopes of ensuring the welfare of the student body.
Woes of online classes
Due to the distress brought by online learning, students from UPM expressed their concerns to call for mass promotion and to end the semester. According to students, online classes compel most of them to be left behind. College of Arts and Sciences Student Council (CASSC) Councilor for Gender, Student’s Rights and Welfare, Ysebelle Ongrea, emphasized, “[Online class] requires additional online devices, internet connection, and conducive learning environment amongst many other necessities, which the majority of the students are not capable of having.”
On top of that, the calamity has worsened the effects of virtual learning as it inflicts more harm on the most vulnerable — particularly the students who were victims of the typhoon. CASSC 2nd Year Batch Representative, Aleijn Reintegrado stated,“..Many have family members and loved ones suffering from trauma after the typhoons, are participating in relief and protest efforts to compensate for government negligence, and are continuing to experience connectivity and electricity problems even as this week ends.”
The calamity placed numerous people at a disadvantage with students in the rural areas being the most affected. Rise for Education — UP Manila Lead Convener Vincent Impas argued how the flaws of remote learning were exposed this semester and how the recent typhoon made it more difficult for students, especially those residing in Marikina, Bicol, and Cagayan, to carry on with their academics.
Given the diverse student body, Nas Alimoda, CASSC Councilor for Education and Research, highlighted how intersectionality also comes to play. “While the privileged find themselves protected by their wealth and status, those without these means are left to suffer the worst of the disasters’ effects,” Alimoda explained.
What The Students Need
UPM students affirmed their desire to end the semester to ensure that the welfare of everyone is taken into account. College of Dentistry Student Council Public Relations Officer Khadija Sarael drew attention to how the mental health and academic motivation of students are now in slumber especially due to the calamity. She pointed out the necessity for the UP administration to probe the lapses within the education system.
Meanwhile, Alimoda gave prominence to the call of the CASSC to call off all requirements, implement a pass all policy, and offer non-graded supplementary learning programs. He also believed that there is a necessity to assess how these changes in the curriculum may inhibit learning gaps experienced by the students.
Aside from the student council, CAS Council of Student Organizations (CSO) also signed the statement initiated by the CASSC and the Voice of the Freshies (VOF). The call demands a scientific assessment of virtual learning in order to make the necessary changes to the academic set-up, providing the students with adequate resources for learning, and providing all students with pass marks.
Student leaders also highlighted the importance of heeding the calls of students. Reintegrado reiterated, “This is an immense collective trauma we’re facing in the aftermath of K-12, COVID-19, forced remote learning, successive calamities, and extreme government negligence at the root of it all. Ending the semester may be a radical proposal, but so is the extent of the harm we’ve been subjected to.”
Reintegrado also considers the call as an avenue to focus on more pressing problems, as well as improving the situation of students. “We need to put an end to the suffering and instead redirect our efforts to aiding in relief and protest efforts, and ensuring the next semester is far better from what we have now,” Reintegrado concluded.
Nowhere to be found
Calls from the student council were not heeded despite their constant lobbying for a humane academic setup. Ongrea claimed, “The administration is yet to provide any response to the countless letters sent by student councils and research-backed position papers that we have sent even before the conduct of the semester.”
Recently, an online twitter rally was set in motion by the CASSC and the UPM League of College Student Councils (LCSC). UPM Chancellor Carmencits Padilla’s sustained refusal to take measures in suspending classes despite the typhoon tragedy caused the whole student body to be outraged. It incited the urge of both the councilors and the students to express their disappointment on the neglect of the chancellor.
Furthermore, students also condemned the UP administration’s silence regarding the crackdown of activists, particularly the red tagging of UP students, considering that the ‘anti-terror law’ is currently implemented. “I don’t think the UP administration understands the vulnerability that its constituents are facing, especially now more than ever as the Terror Law is in effect. Or worse, it might be neglecting that vulnerability,” Reintegrado stressed.
There is also widespread condemnation of the UP administration’s emphasis on world rankings alone as opposed to the safety of its students. “No world rankings and no amount of academic excellence can compensate for [the UP administration’s] neglect on student demands and silence on the people’s struggle,” Ongrea pointed out.
While individual student leaders from UPM are vocal regarding their stances on ending the semester, the University Student Council (USC) and the LCSC recently drafted a position paper regarding its call to implement a ‘No Fail Policy’, remove all deadlines and requirements, reform the curriculum, provide adequate learning materials, and demand accountability from the Duterte administration.
With less than two weeks before the semester ends, the UP administration has yet to issue a systemwide response and are complacent to let the student body wait for a few more days before addressing the students’ concerns.
