“Academic Freeze”

Thousands of Filipinos and millions of people all over the world have been infected by
the Covid-19 virus since it started. Today, the pandemic is affecting people all over the world,
and it is affecting our way of life, our decisions and choices, and our goals. Because of the
Covid-19 lockdown, many Filipinos have been out of work and have lost their jobs. We are
thinking it impossible to go out and purchase necessities, let alone pay our bills. Not just
workers, but all Filipinos and citizens all over the country, including students, struggled to live
with covid-19. This pandemic had a number of effects on me and taught me insights and
realizations that have made me learn new things about myself, my environment, and new life
lessons. The hashtag #NoStudentLeftBehind is a petition for inclusion in the Philippines'
educational system. In the wake of the pandemic, it began as an online campaign to urge mass
promotion for schools.

Why "Academic Freeze" is the ideal thing for us right now. COVID-19 caused massive
school and university closures throughout the Philippines. The children sit at home as the parents
cope with the brunt of the situation. That's the way it should be. However, not everyone will take
online courses from the convenience of their own house. Besides that, the risk of falling behind
academically is a mental and emotional burden that many students will do anything to escape. In
Omegle, an anonymous messaging site, one student revealed his experience with a child. The girl
said she was selling "naked" images in return for money for online courses. She isn't the only one
who uses these tactics to make money. A 20-year-old Capiz student was involved in a car
accident. She was driving home from the station, searching for an internet connection. Another
20-year-old Masbate student had to scale a mountain. To get internet access for her online tests,
she had to scale a wall. For certain schools, compliance with school regulations will be
prohibitively expensive.

This pandemic has had an effect on my education; as one of the first generation of first-
year college students, it has made my first year of college the toughest it has ever been. Being a
student in college comes with a lot of improvements and transitions, but due to the pandemic, I
didn't get to enjoy my college life, which has harmed my academic success as well as my mental
health. The old face-to-face classes have given way to online learning classes as a result of the
modern mainstream school. Students must have access to the internet and mobile devices, but
“some students and teachers have insufficient access to the internet and electronic devices, which
leaves schooling unsustainable,” according to “The HEAD Foundation.” During the pandemic,
these online classes were impractical, affecting the majority of students as well as my education.

Education should not be limited to those who have access to a laptop and a reliable
internet connection. All of us will learn from education. After the pandemic, it has had an effect
on not just my academics and internet usage, but also my mental health. I was worried about
completing my tests, particularly because most of the teachers assigned a lot of work. In
addition, because of my surroundings, I am having difficulty completing my modules. Our
surroundings have an effect on not just my education but also my attitudes and study habits. I am
not only the person who is experiencing this kind of situation but most Filipinos also. This
pandemic did have an effect on my behavioral style, leading me to feel stressed and have trouble
learning, as well as affecting my actions and schooling as a result of the environment. This
pandemic has left me depressed and caused mental health issues, which not only affects me but
millions of Filipinos.

The Philippines is faced with unparalleled health, fiscal, and social difficulties. The days
of "normal life" are over. As a result, in these days of "fresh normal," we should give up trying to
keep things "normal." Clearly, now is not the right time to be burdened with academic
obligations. Many students often report that their homes are not especially conducive to learning.
Not everybody has the luxury of getting a private room apart from the rest of the family. For the
time being, freezing the academic school year could be our best choice before all of the problems
listed above are adequately resolved and mass research is well underway.

REFERENCES:

The Philippines – COVID-19 and Its Impact on Higher Education in the Philippines. The HEAD Foundation.
Retrieved from: https://headfoundation.org/HESB8/covid-19-and-itsimpact-on-higher-education-in-the-philippines/

Opinion: An ‘academic freeze’ is the best option for Filipino students for now. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2020/6/1/academic-freeze-opinion.html
 Covid-19 Impact On Mental Health of Filipinos. The ASEAN Post. Retrieved from:
https://theaseanpost.com/article/covid-19-impact-mental-health-filipinos