THE PROLONGED community quarantine is straining the education of students. For learning continuity, they certainly need gadgets and internet support. There have been reports that distance learning further suffers as in-person module distribution becomes more difficult, while online class participation further dropped with families unable to afford internet connectivity expenses.
We do not want to see learning loss among students, worsened by the limitations imposed by the community quarantine. Department of Education officials themselves declared on multiple occasions that learning must continue amid the pandemic, but how?
The already inaccessible distance learning became farther from the reach of most of our students — many of whom have been reeling from the health and economic crises since last year.
Is it true that in some instances, module distribution is being done via Facebook Messenger, where teachers send digital copies of the modules, photos of learning materials, and activities to multiple group chats? Teachers have noted, however, that a large number of students were unable to access the materials due to lack of proper gadgets and internet connectivity, leaving educators at a loss on how to reach these kids.
Some teachers reported that they were compelled to carry out physical distribution and retrieval of modules despite the health risks. In such cases, teachers print and sort the materials inside the campus and leave boxes at the gates where parents can collect and drop off modules with minimal interaction.
The teachers’ dilemma goes like this: on the one hand, they can opt for the safest option of doing everything online but many, if not most, will likely be left behind; on the other, they can brave their way to our schools and physically distribute modules, risking our safety and that of parents and nearby communities.
As COVID-19 cases surges unabatedly, there could be longer lockdowns or restrictions in movements, especially with the absence of a comprehensive medical solution to curb the spread of the deadly disease.
The national government must therefore provide aid to education by providing gadgets and internet allowances to millions of learners in need. Our students need them now for learning to continue. The youth’s right to education can’t continue to suffer due to the government’s many failures — to provide the needs of distance learning, to give sufficient aid to low-income households, to contain the pandemic, and many others. These must be addressed now, before it’s too late.
