GAS ARTICLE #4
An ‘academic freeze’ is the best option for Filipino students for now
Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — In the Philippines, a 20-year-old student from Capiz died of a
motorcycle accident on her way home, while another 20-year-old student from Masbate climbed a
mountain; both were searching for a signal just to submit their academic requirements.
Why do we still romanticize underprivileged Filipino academic resilience and sacrifice the lives of
the “hope of the future” — when there is still no nationwide mass testing — just to resume classes?
With a mental health pandemic and digital divide cutting deeper into our educational system, an
“academic freeze” must be considered — at least, until and unless the curve has flattened and mass
testing has been made and proven effective. At most, a vaccine against COVID-19 should be developed.
The “off-site and online”
Pushing through an “off-site and online” mode of learning will just further resurface the digital divide
evident in our educational sphere. Not everyone has a stable internet connection and it would be hard
or worse, impossible for some students to reach a signal. Institutions equipped to implement this
method, by providing gadgets and student allowances, would just increase institutional incompetence in
resolving the problems with internet access (not to mention the proper gadgets) of students across the
country, as it would leave students of most institutions behind due to incapacity to adopt such
measures. Cognitive skills may be enriched through online classes but it would only leave the class to be
teacher-centered while emotive and motor skills may be undermined, as there is no hands-on guidance,
physical experimentation, and practical activities.
The “off-site and offline”
In the alternative “off-site and offline” mode, learning materials and requirements can be delivered bot
by mail. But this set-up will possibly require families to find a means to procure money for courier fees.
This lack of empathy implies that our educational system is turning a blind eye to whom we should help
and what we should focus on — the frontliners, the underprivileged, and flattening the curve. Instead of
saving a community for the "hope of the society," it just impairs our mental health. Rather than
prioritizing safety and security, it just reflects otherwise.
The “academic freeze”
It may not be the best solution, but an “academic freeze” can be adopted until the digital divide is fully
resolved or results of mass testing and curve-flattening are already evaluated empirically. An “academic
freeze” can also be adopted through a “no vaccine, no classes” policy wherein all academic calendars
and curricula need not to be adjusted, but will just have to suspend classes per academic year. If there is
no vaccine yet as of 2020, it may be possible to suspend the Academic Year 2020 to 2021 and resume
classes on the Academic Year 2021 to 2022 without adjusting the June to March and August to May
academic calendars.
Leave no student behind
Economically affected, agencies, companies and institutions, whether public or private, can
encourage graduating students to apply for a job during the “academic freeze” to uplift local businesses.
Furthermore, a possible loan with no interest agreement, public-private partnership, or government-
business coordination can incentivize school employees and contractual workers so they will still be
motivated in sustaining and improving their morale and productivity to provide quality education, post-
pandemic. “Academic freeze” will give the country time to have effective and efficient mass testing or
mass vaccination; not only in the hands of one, but for a collective and responsive system to push
through this pandemic. As far as there are underprivileged students who are victims of a distorted
system, an “academic freeze” is the most plausible option for students, teachers, and school
administrators. It allows them to collaborate in helping our frontliners, assisting our local governments,
and in helping the country recover from an economic recession by conducting inclusive socio-economic
volunteer mobilization programs. No student should be left behind. Education is a right, but crisis
response speaks of valuing human lives.
Works Cited
Sape, E.J., Aquino, B.M., & Olivar, A.I. (2020, june 1). An ‘academic freeze’ is the best option for Filipino
students for now. Retrieved from CNN Philippines:
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2020/6/1/academic-freeze-opinion.html
