NEWS  

In an online interview, 16 first year students from various universities stated how the new normal in education made their transition from highschool to college hard and overwhelming, which led them to call for academic ease at their respective universities.

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“I feel stressed. Despite it being a month into the school year, it's been hard adjusting to college life… Also add to the fact that our [first year] will be online which makes it harder to adjust,” Enrique Pablo Arches, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Engineering student, said.

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John Matthew Gicom, a BS Public Health student from University of the Philippines Manila, stated that students’ health and well-being should be prioritized over academics.

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“Lessen academic workload…Provide students with more breaks than often, as we are amidst a pandemic. [Academics] should only be [second priority] to health and well-being,” Gicom said as he suggested possible measures for schools, professors and educational government agencies.

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Students also cited deteriorating mental health, internet connectivity issues, power interruptions, heavy workload, financial issues and non-conducive environment or conditions among others as some of the issues they face. 

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Maria Suyat, a pre-medical BS Physics student, stated that she is struggling with self-learning despite having all the materials needed for online classes. 

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“I worry that I might have to drop out due to the mental stress. I am also barely learning anything even with all the materials given to us. Self-study isn't the easiest task for students who learn better through interactive activities,” Suyat said.

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Lack of laboratory and practical applications, online learning communication difficulties, lack of learning and “missing out on college life” were also among their concerns. 

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Rhea Beatrice Carlos, a BS Nursing student, said that government agencies should stop romanticizing teachers or students’ hardships in teaching and learning amid the pandemic.

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“I wish that they'd stop romanticizing the sacrifices of teachers or students with regards to learning amidst the pandemic, situations like these should instead prompt them to work and think harder on how they could improve learning for all and see to it that no student is left behind,” she said. 

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Students from Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines Diliman and Manila, University of Sto. Thomas, Mapua University, Central State Luzon University and St. Vincent de Ferrer College of Camarin, Inc. participated in the interview. 

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Kabataan Partylist (KPL), the Filipino youth’s representative to the Congress, also joined the students and amplified the calls for academic ease. 

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KPL Representative Sarah Elago addressed the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to heed the demands of the students facing online learning difficulties.

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“Easing of academic load is necessary to help students and members of faculty and education support personnel affected by the typhoons,” Elago said in a tweet posted last November 15. 

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Metro Manila remains in General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in efforts to boost economic activities. 

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Colleges and universities waived the conduct of face-to-face classes this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. #