COVID-19: Suspension of Classes

The author is Teacher III at Pampanga High School Maricar A. Intal

“Free education and health care are essential for the welfare of the population” by José Ramos-Horta. Education is the key to have a successful life but on the other hand, health is a must that we need to prioritize to have a better future. Nowadays, wherein we are facing a new type of virus that damaging people's life and disturbing the peace that we once have. How can the students pursue their dreams if their classes are suspended because of the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19)? Many people are now afraid of what is happening to the world right now. We all know that COVID-19 is being acquired by the Chinese who eat bats because it is part of their cuisine. The fact that we already know the origin of this virus we still having a hard time finding the right drug to exclude this virus. Right now in the Philippines especially in the part of Luzon most of the people are having a hard time because of the enhance quarantine that the President declared. This enhanced quarantine was declared to slow down the rapid rate of passing the virus to the other people. In fact before the enhanced quarantine the Department of Education that allows class suspension. Up to this date, some says that the class suspension is the right thing to do so that it can protect the health of a student but in the other hand some activities like national competitions, awarding’s, moving up ceremony and especially graduation rights are suspended and it does not have the exact date when it can be conducted again. Most of the students especially the candidates for the graduation rights are quite disappointed and afraid that there will be no more graduation ceremony. Until now more people are confused like the parents if the child will not experience this moment of receiving their diploma on stage with a toga hat on their heads and to be able to have a final moment with your alma mater and schoolmates. On the other hand, the government just wants the people to be safe from the COVID-19 although it also hurt their feelings about not having a graduation ceremony in some part of the country. The government prioritizes the health of the students because it is more important than the graduation rights that can be moved on the other date. There are so many people arguing about this issue but think for a second it is much important to suspend the ceremony rights rather than taking a risk on conducting this event. We all know that this event is a once in a lifetime moment for high school graduates but just what other people say health is wealth. Education and other events can be regained but your precious life cannot.