Marasigan, Kyla G.

Article Critique:
Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Mitigation of the Spread of Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19) in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
CHED ADVISORY NO. 4
14 March 2020

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has greatly affected public health and caused
numerous deaths in just a short period of time. On March 12, 2020, the Philippines has already
raised Code Red Sublevel 2 over the threat of the said disease. Considering the fast
transmission of the new disease, the safety of students, university staffs and administrators are
threatened and needed immediate action.
In accordance to the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated 13 March 2020
adjuring stringent social distancing measures and further guidelines for the management of the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation, the Commission on Higher Education has provided
the terms of the Resolution that directly affect all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and
issued CHED Advisory No. 4 to all HEIs which is to be read in conjunction with CHED’s previous
COVID-19 advisories (Nos. 1, 2 and 3). The advisory states that classes in the National Capital
Region (NCR) shall continue to be suspended until April 14, 2020 and a community quarantine
shall be imposed over the entire NCR starting from March 15, 2020 to April 14, 2020. HEIs
outside NCR were also advised to formulate contingency measures in case their localities will be
declared under quarantine. While the advisory clearly aims to distance and protect the
students, staff, faculty and administrators from COVID-19, some important factors in assuring
the safety of the students were missed.
One of statements in the advisory states that “HEIs that have shifted their academic
calendar (i.e. school semester starts in January) do not need to postpone or cancel graduation
but may need to adjust their semester as needed, adopt different delivery modes of teaching,
and provide make up classes to compensate for the 30-day class suspension”. The statement
“adopt different delivery modes of teaching” is truly a good way to fill the 30-day suspension of
classes, a resourceful suggestion. However, it can also lead the students to detrimental
situations that instead of distancing themselves from the risks of coronavirus disease, the
opposite happens.
Suggesting the use of alternative methods implies the use of the internet to facilitate
learning. This platform of learning lacks the face-to-face interaction between the teacher and
the student. Meaning to say, questions and complaints will not be addressed immediately since
there is only an indirect connection between the students and the teacher. For example, a
student faces difficulty in understanding a certain lesson and asked a question to the teacher. If
the teacher is online at that time, then there is a high chance that the student’s concern will be
answered immediately. However, if the teacher is currently offline, then it may cause a delay in
the student’s learning since the problem is not quickly addressed especially when they are
meeting deadlines. Proceeding with the lessons by attending online classes will just result to
students not clearly understanding their syllabi for the formal guidance and face-to-face
interaction between them and their instructors are absent. Later on, it will affect them on the
long run.
In addition, according to education.seattlepi.com, if the instructors aren’t proficient and
knowledgeable enough in handling technological tools and details that are used in an online
class, online classes would be difficult to do. Say, if one of the best ways to do online class is
through board discussions and presentations and the instructor struggles on providing it to the
class through online, the purpose of the class won’t be attained.
Moreover, one common problem encountered by students is lack of devices that will be
used such as smart phones, laptops, desktops, etc. and the barrier set by the absence of
internet connection. Not all students have access to the internet and not all can afford buying
internet cards and mobile load. Some students will be forced to take the risks and stay outside
their homes and go to the nearest computer shops in order to access to the internet and to
comply with the requirements assigned to them by their teachers. As a result, the objectives of
the advisory will not be realized. Instead of staying at their homes, the students expose
themselves outdoors increasing the probability of receiving the virus and possibly transmitting
it to others.
On a different scenario, some students may have internet connection, but still, it is not
certain that the speed of their connection can keep up to the speed the application (used in
attending online classes) requires. According to a news report by CNN Philippines in 2017,
Philippines is among the lowest ranked countries in internet speed and availability and that the
country ranked 74th out of 77 countries in terms of 4G speed . Having slow internet connection
would result to difficulty in handling many of the more popular and useful online utilities and
applications out there for the students and the teachers.
Aside from the absence of internet connection, lack of school supplies and materials is
one of the problems. Not all students have enough resources that they can use to comply their
assignments and requirements which lead them to go outside and buy the things they need.
Also, some of the students went home to their provinces and left their things at the school or at
their apartments/boarding house, etc.
Some State Universities in NCR already has seen through the possible threats that online
classes can give. On March 17, 2020, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, has
suspended online classes until April 14, 2020. Also, according to CNN Philippines, the University
of the Philippines system (Diliman, Manila, Los Baños, Baguio, Visayas, Cebu, Mindanao) except
UP Open University are suspended until April 14, Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle
University, University of Santo Tomas, Mapua University, Adamson University, National
University, Philippine Normal University, STI College also suspends all online learning sessions.
 Other guidelines the prevention, control and mitigation of the spread of coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) were also stated to be followed as the government implements a
month-long community quarantine for the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Metro Manila.
On the other hand, the contents were decided in accordance to the existing laws in the
Philippines and considered the situation of the students, faculty and administrations. The ideas
are written in an organized manner. They used words that are appropriate to state the
objectives of the advisory.
Overall, the advisory was clear and comprehensive making it effective in disseminating
information. All of its contents were weighed and decided in accordance to the existing laws in
the Philippines. However, some important considerations were missed. Resorting to alternative
methods may seem resourceful and innovative, but during these times, it is not about being
resourceful, it is about prioritizing the safety and health of the students.

References:
[1] “Report: PH among lowest ranked countries in internet speed, availability“ Accessed 18
March 2020 at https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/11/03/philippines-lowest-rank-
internet-speed-availability.html
[2] “Report: LIST: Online classes suspensions due to COVID-19” Accessed 18 March 2020 at
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/18/List-online-class-suspensions-march-18.html
[3] “Problems in Online Classes” Accessed 19 March 2020 at
https://education.seattlepi.com/problems-online-classes-1132.html
[4]