How should the Philippine educational system proceed amid the pandemic?

Online classes?
Distance learning?
Academic freeze?

[a thread]

The first option is anti-poor.

The second option means either online classes or learning by take-home modules. Modular learning passes the burden to parents and students as to how they will make sure that the education process continues.

The third sounds reasonable. But in the long run, it will produce more harm than good and may not be practical as a blanket policy. Students who stop going to school for long periods of time (especially those from very poor families) are less likely to return to school...

...It will also increase risk of students to domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, etc.

So what should we do?

We must urge our government to do the necessary steps that will allow the safe resumption of physical classes as soon as possible:

*mass testing and other medical actions
*ensuring minimum health standards in schools
*hiring more teachers, non-teaching personnel, health and sanitation officers
*providing financial subsidy to schools so they can comply with safety standards

Physical classes remain to be the best option if we do not want families to spend thousands of pesos for low-quality online classes or distance education.

Of course, this isn't a black-and-white issue. Resumption of physical classes and required attendance will depend on...

...how the pandemic will be addressed in each area. E.g. a brgy high school in a low-risk area may be allowed to have physical classes to some extent. The school must not be punished by forcing it to go online or freeze its calendar.

#MassTestingNow
#LigtasNaBalikEskwela