EAPP (Quarter 2 – Module 1)

Online classes – Position Paper

By: Regin Mae R. Dela Gente XI-Diamond

Introduction
“No students should be left behind…"

On January 30, 2020, the very first SARs-CoV-2 case was reported in the Philippines (Rappler). Few
days after that, every region around the country was forced to go through mandatory lockdown. Every
sector of our country was drastically affected, most especially the sector of education. Traditional
face-to-face classes were prohibited to take place, and discontinued for a moment. Eventually, after
thorough discussion and planning, on October 6, 2020 the Department of Education (DepEd) headed by
Leonor Briones resort to imposing distance learning that includes printed modules and online classes for
the aim to continue education amid the global health crisis we are facing.

During the first few months of the implementation of distance learning, it did not go smoothly
and even gained controversy and complaints coming from people, especially students for numerable
reasons. In fact, students and youth organizations across the country urged the Philippine government to
postpone classes in the middle of this pandemic. Through utilizing social media platforms Filipino
students popularized the use of the hashtag: academic free to be heard and call out the attention of our
government.

Personally, I believe and stand firm that conducting online classes is not the best way to
reconcile learning difficulties now a days for it makes education extra challenging and way out of the
reach for the people in the middle class and below, the people who are under marginalized sectors in
general and as well as it is impacting negative effects on the mental health of students.

Body

A. Lack of Resources

1. Beginning with the fact that not every students are privileged enough to have a fair access in online
classes. Neither not every parents have the capabilities to support and provide their children the
necessary materials for online classes, such as laptop and wifi which cost around almost a 4 months food
budget of a middle class Filipino family. Additionally, now that we are in the middle of an economic crisis
and millions of jobs were lost, it is more difficult for every financially challenged family to gather
resources and fund online classes, a big factor to conclude that online classes are not as good as how
other people view it.

2. In fact, according to Business Mirror, a trusted daily business newspaper in the Philippines on
September 2021, the poverty rate of the Philippines increased to 18.3 percent, covering the 20 million of
the country’s total number of population. This recent elevated rate of poverty is fueled by 4.5 percent
2021 GDP of Philippines (Asian Development Outlook) and the September 2021 4.25 million jobless
Filipino individuals, equivalent to a high rate of 8.9 percent (Rappler).

B. Mental Health Issues

1. More so, online classes are affecting student's inner being in negative ways; causing mental
health issues such as depression and anxiety. Adding loaded school tasks with the fear for the Covid-19
virus that is going around us and being prohibited to go out, only make students' mental state be in
trouble. Unlike the traditional face-to-face classes where students can socialize with other people and
school tasks seem to be easier with an actual guidance of teachers and the helping hands of classmates.
2. As per the survey held by a civil society group “SeQuRe”, public school students and even
teachers as well declared that the shift of learning had burdened them with heavier workloads. And as
well according to the same source, students also raised concerns about the negative effects of online
learning on their mental health with 30 percent reporting mental and emotional stresses. Furthermore,
educational and psychological researches have raised concerns about student's mental health as they
switch to online learning. Investigations pointed out that students have experienced an increase in
stress, anxiety, and depression (Aslan et al., 2020; Odriozola-González et al.,2020; Saravanan et al.,2020;
Son et al.,2020). And, have felt some negative feeling intensified, such as fear, worry, or boredom
(Aristovnik et al.,2022; Son et al.,2020).

C. Technology unreadiness

1. Lastly, it is not new to us how sluggish our country’s internet connection is and as well as how
left behind we are in terms of technology advancement. More worst in our country’s most urbanized and
secluded areas that modernization has not completely reached yet.

2. Based on the assessment done by “Ookla”, the global leader in fixed broadband and mobile
network testing applications, data and analysis, Philippines has only an average speed of 33.69 megabits
per second (mbps) which put s at around 72nd place in global ranking as of July 2021. This makes extra
difficult and challenging for students to access online class. To add more, as per the DepEd's ICT service
director Aida Yuvienco in an interview with “GovInsider” on July 2020, “Only 26 percent of public schools
are connected to the internet or are able to connect to the internet”, and she also added that nearly
5,000 public schools remote areas do not even have access to electricity and according to the
Department of Science and Technology, Philippines is only being 83rd out of 138 countries in terms of
digital readiness.

D. Nonetheless, on the opposing side, some prefer online class and view in whole different way.
They see conducting online class as the best way to reconcile learning difficulties now a days, for it is
convenient. With stable internet connection and gadgets to use, students can attend their classes
without having to go outside and cut-off transportation expenses on their budget. They also prefer
online class for according to them, online classes enable you to manage your time and do your activities
on your own pace of time.

Conclusion
 Taking everything into an account, online classes might be good for it is convenient, but it is way
too far from being the best way to continue learning in this present time. After all we are not only after
for a convenient education, we are for quality education where everyone can foster into a wonderful
individuals without having to suffer from financial incapability, unreadiness in technology advancement
and deteriorating our mental health. Access to quality education is one of the tenets of our human
rights, and it must be given to very Filipino people by our government. The best way to continue learning
amid our current situation is everyone vaccinated so that we can go back to our traditional face-to-face
classes where we can obtain more knowledge and practice our engagement and communication skills
that are key essential to survive this world we are living in.