Editor-in-Chief: JOHN PAUL ANYAYAHAN | Editorial

Cartoon by: DENSTLE JOHN VARGAS

#AcademicFreeze: an inequality

As health and economic crisis issues continue to plague the country and its education sector amidst the COVID-pandemic, #AcademicFreeze has now become a trending topic. While the evidences and arguments provided by its supporters intend to do good, academic freeze is unfortunately a mere band-aid solution which will further cripple the already degrading status of workers in the Philippines.

The #AcademicFreeze trend on the social media platform Twitter became viral after Education Sec. Leonor Briones announced the movement of the opening of schools to October 5. Here, Filipino students express their pleas to the Department of Education: issues of mental health, unprivileged students, and the diminished quality of education from online learning are discussed.

However, based on the implications of academic freeze, such an action is more than capable of bringing greater harm to the other sectors of the nation. In fact, it will not address the socio-economic problems of the Philippines as it will exacerbate them instead; unemployment rates will spike as workers (school teachers, staff, security guards, maintenance, etc.) lose their jobs, which is critical in the midst of this pandemic.

Furthermore, it should be duly noted that academic freeze is solely centered on the concern for the welfare of students without throwing in the fate of teachers and other workers into the mix. For what it is, #AcademicFreeze does not suit the needs of everyone; instead of a #NoOneLeftBehind mindset as it should be, academic freeze promotes the ideology of #NoStudentLeftBehind.

As such, the best course of action available is for students to continue learning by means of the available learning methods. Maintaining the academic process will take into account the livelihood of everyone affected by the current times – workers won’t lose their source of income for living, and learners won’t face a one-year delay in their curriculum trek.

Instead of demanding for #AcademicFreeze, Filipinos would be better off with the #LigtasBalikEskwela call. Settling for the former would allow the government to suspend classes and do nothing; a freeze would give them more leeway to further prolong the creation of a concrete and sound plan to combat COVID-19, which is much-needed and long overdue.

Speaking of plans, such an appropriate response to the needs of the people would be interesting to see, much like what St. Edward School provided to its students. Under the Edwardian EDGE (Excellence in Digital Global Education), Learning Packets are delivered at the doorstep of every learner, online educational resources are made available, and the individual needs of Edwardians are answered by appropriate services made to cater every necessity. Equal sense of responsibility and comprehensive resource allocation have been present.

To wrap up everything, it is an easy solution to call for the temporary cessation of classes but it is inconsiderate of the livelihoods which will be endangered should it be implemented; it utilizes an approach of inequality. If we are to look for a call that is inclusive in all sectors in the long run, then #LigtasBalikEskwela is the most viable option to demand and uphold.

The whole fiasco of online classes and distanced learning would not have even been brought to life had the current regime taken immediate action against the COVID-19 pandemic anyway.

What we need now is to demand accountability from the administration instead of implementing a band-aid solution that will serve to delay the proper response the people need. Opting for the #AcademicFreeze call is disadvantageous; what we need is comprehensive mass testing, effective contract tracing, and sound health protocols for operation #LigtasBalikEskwela which will solve the differing needs of everyone. Aiming for a permanent solution that encompasses all and not a select group of individuals should be the priority goal.