Schools in Philippines face Coronavirus challenges from passing marks to graduation rites.
CORONAVIRUS CHALLENGES – The educational system of schools in the Philippines face challenges brought about by pandemic coronavirus.
Even before President Rodrigo Duterte announced enhanced community quarantine in Luzon which was extended until April, schools from all over the country already declared class suspensions for the safety of the students. The class and work suspension is a part of the safety measures in preventing the spread of the virus.
Ateneo De Manila University recently received praises and positive comments after announcing that all their students will have passing marks and for ending their semester early. The semester will end in May 8 “in the interest of everyone’s well-being in our community.”
The automatic passing mark for the students is one of the major challenges of today’s education system in this time of pandemic. Ateneo vice president for the Loyola Schools Maria Luz Vilches said that this is the mos humane way they could see to deal the situation of the students under such tough circumstances. While not everyone is not in favor of this.
Another challenge about mass promotion gave the authorities to consider giving students deferred grades. This will give an assurance to students that they have passed but will have to meet the requirements set by their instructors. And those who will fail can opt for re-enrolling the subject in the following semester.
Meanwhile, as for UP student regent Isaac Punzalan, deferred grade is accordingly an additional workload and suggested for mass promotion instead. This way, students will accordingly not feel that they are being academically penalized just because of the situation they are into that’s not of their choice.
The graduation rites. A student, in each academic level, only graduates once. They can only enter high school once and graduate from it once and this is something special for everyone. Graduation is a celebration for them as their hard work paid off.
It has been reported recently that a school in Japan held graduation rites through robots. And in the Philippines, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that rites would have to be postponed due to ECQ and the restriction of mass gatherings. Originally, the graduation and moving up ceremonies in public elementary and high schools was scheduled on April 13 to 17.
And in terms of the opening of classes, the DepEd secretary said based on One News, “We are studying very carefully… because it will have implications… If we move the calendar year to July or August, they will be extending all the way to summer next year. Our schools are not really built for summer classes.”
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