Reaction Paper

Name: Abram S. Alfaro

Section: 12STECH01
Article Link: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1489984/distance-learning-program-gives-rise-
to-online-cheating
Reaction Paper:

In Jane Bautista’s newspaper article entitled “Distance learning program gives

rise to online cheating”, she presents two main points and that is the defective inner-
workings of online classes and the continued difficulties students have encountered
from distance-learning. Bautista states the recent development that had unfolded on the
social media website, Facebook, where a group named “Online Kopyahan” with 600,
000 members composing of students was taking root. According to her, the Facebook
group served as the cheating grounds for numerous students in the country as
members of the group would exchange notes and test answers with other members in
order to cheat in their online classes. This incident became the basis for the two main
points she covered in her article. She exclaims that the flawed design of online classes
and the struggles it brings to children is what led to the formation of the online cheating
group in the first place.

Most students and even teachers would agree with Bautista’s observation
because it is an agreed-upon fact that distance-learning classes isn’t the best way for
students to get their education especially for those children who are financially
handicapped. This sentiment is evident on Kristhean Navales’ statements who is a
fourth-grade teacher and president of the Quezon City Public School Teachers
Association whom Bautista interviewed for her article. According to Navales “learning
has become a burden for students” and “the distance learning system really
encouraged the cheating because its design has many flaws”. Because it is hard for
teachers and professors to monitor their students in a digital setting and the only thing
teachers can rely on is their students’ honesty, it is easy to imagine that cheating in
online classes is a common occurrence. Therefore, Bautista’s remark about the
inherently flawed design of distance-learning is true as it heavily relies on student
honesty and integrity even if these same students are faced with a stressful situation
that they can easily get out of by cheating. Moreover, online classes may be an
innovative way of getting around the problem of education during the pandemic but it
doesn’t mean that it’s perfect.
 Furthermore, online classes are a lot more stressful for a number of students
compared to face-to-face classes. This is evidenced by the fact that more and more
students are being forced to bring their education into a halt since distance-learning
presents too many problems in their way. Bautista strengthens this notion by bringing
attention to a survey conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund last May 2021.
According to the findings of the survey, 84 percent of the parents involved reported that
“children were learning less in distance learning than face-to-face classes, despite
giving more time to guide them”. Additionally, according to Anne, a grade 9 student that
Bautista also interviewed, students during this pandemic are very demoralized because
of online classes. Anne also said “instead of studying for our future, we’re just studying
to pass the subject”. Learning in school is already hard enough for certain children and
now add the stresses distance-learning brings to the table, it’s not a mystery why a lot of
students are either resorting to cheating or are too discouraged to continue their
education.

Jane Bautista’s newspaper article effectively put into words the glaring
discrepancies of a digital mode of learning present in the Philippines today. As of now,
the Philippines is the only country in the world that is still stuck in implementing online
classes while the rest of the world is back to normal face-to-face classes. This does not
only speak for the failure of the education system of the country but also the
incompetence of the Philippine Government to successfully contain the COVID-19
pandemic in order for the safe resumption of face-to-face classes to actually happen.
Adding to this, it would seem like most people would agree with this as all of the
personalities Bautista interviewed for her article would agree that in-person classes
should become the norm again. Online classes became the savior of education in the
Philippines during the pandemic as it provided a safe way for children to learn but it
might also be the cause of its downfall in the near future if the government continues
mishandling the pandemic situation. Bautista’s article perfectly exemplifies the Filipino
people’s want for change especially in the education sector as the ugly side of distance-
learning is slowly being revealed.