Online Learning in PH amid Covid 19, not ready?

Gil V. Tiongco

The Department of Education (DepEd) has crafted a Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) that involves online learning, but some say the Philippines is not widely ready for a shift and roll-out of this modality.

Rethinking of education in Covid-19 pandemic time

Schools shut down due to Covid-19 threats, but experts say learning does not have to stop, it merely has to evolve. World Economic Forum last March hinted that disruption of classes due to coronavirus outbreak gives educators time to rethink. Their role in education in this pandemic time must change, especially in a world where knowledge is a mouse-click away.

Schools worldwide gearing for online learning

So accordingly, World Bank works with departments of education around the globe to utilize educational technologies. In Asia, for example, China embarked on a large amount of online learning exercise for nearly 200 million students. Japan’s school districts have employed ICT-based distance learning such as online-class delivery, video-conferences, and groupware based instructions. Korea released emergency budget for online education platforms and Indonesia organized ten technology providers.

DepEd preparing LCP that involves online learning

In the Philippines, the DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan presented that the opening of school year 2020-2021 "does not necessarily mean that students will be coming to school," as classes can take a multi-modal approach where they are looking at ICT platforms, as well as television and radio. DepEd has partnered with various groups that have expertise on flexible learning options or multi-modal platform for learning instructions through broadcast medium as well as online.

Perceived challenges for online learning

However, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) surveyed that only 53% from low and lower-middle income countries are using online learning platforms. Several concerns that hindered online learning were disclosed such as insufficient Internet capacity, poor availability of good electricity, and lack of adequate ICT/digital skills among parents/caregivers (80%), teachers (64%), and students (48%).

As one of the considered low and lower-middle income countries, our country experienced these inadequacies. Juco Antonio Rivera, who teaches at iAcademy noted slow internet connection is the worst enemy of online classes. A study by Ginbert Cuaton of Leyte Normal University revealed that distance learning is not the preferred and conditioned choice of teaching and studying in the Philippines. With the sudden outbreak of coronavirus, teachers are not technically, psychologically, and educationally prepared for online classes.

Learning undisrupted when classes are disrupted

President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his sentiments with regard to Covid-19 pandemic happening in his reign but he believed that Filipino spirit is innately resourceful, strong, and resilient.

As Cuaton concluded, extraordinary times require extraordinary actions to continuously provide undisrupted quality education in pandemic times. The study recommended the ability of DepEd and CHED to provide a plan that outlines procedures and instructions that schools must follow to face the pandemic. Hence, LCP was crafted. Then, the next big thing to question is the readiness of the educators, learners and parents to apply it.

A renowned Filipino writer, I.V. Mallari, can provide an answer. In his essay ‘Pliant like the Bamboo Tree’, the Filipinos can bend like a bamboo and adjust to the peculiar whims of fate. In hindsight, no adversities can make the educators, learners, and parents give up. They will always find ways to cope with changes in order to lift education even though this means making online learning accessible and resumption of classes possible amidst Covid-19 pandemic time.

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The author is Principal IV at Porac Model Community High School