Should the Education in the Philippines go for an Academic Freeze?

Nazario P. Lumbang

A 20-year old student from Capiz died of a motorcycle accident on her way home after looking for a good signal to submit her academic requirements. While, a student from Masbate climbed a mountain in search for a good internet connection to submit her class requirement immediately. These are only few of the reasons why several Filipino students online call for an academic freeze.

Academic freeze refers to the formal suspension of classes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the formal opening of classes, various sides continue to push and reject academic freeze. The youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) sent a petition to CHED, calling for an academic freeze this school year 2020-2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Also, several student groups online continue to push for an academic freeze until the government is able to bring the COVID-19 under control, citing that students and teachers are not prepared to conduct remote learning due to lack of equipment for online class such as gadgets and internet connection.

It is quite evident that education in the midst of pandemic is not accessible to all Filipinos as several posts in social media reports that Filipino students are climbing trees, or even mountains, just to send class requirements for their online classes. However, not only the lack of gadgets and access to the internet are the barrier to achieving an effective Filipino education.

In an interview with Rappler, education economist and president of Far Eastern University Michael Alba said that "remote learning" will basically be homeschooling. However, this is where the problem lies since not all of the parents are educated. Some parents can’t even read nor write. They are sending their children to school because they don’t want their children to be like them. Therefore, those parents are not capable of guiding their children during home schooling.

On the other hand, the Department of Education opposed the calls for academic freeze, saying it is a shortsighted solution as it does not take into consideration the prolonged interruption in the learning process of children. Also, Deped Secretary Leonor Briones reiterated that cancelling the classes this year would be very detrimental to children and Filipino students will be left behind.

Deped also said that there is no need for parents to buy gadgets and pay for an internet access for their children because schools will be providing printed module materials for them.

Whether the Philippine education should or should not go for an academic freeze lies within the question - Can the government really pull off a safe and effective delivery of education with no Filipino students left behind?

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The author is Master Teacher I at San Nicolas Elementary School