A POLITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROS AND CONS OF PURSUING EDUCATION IN

THE TIME OF COVID-19 1

A Political Analysis of the Pros and Cons of Pursuing Education in the Time of Covid-19

Payar, Patricia V.

BSA 1-1

Purposive Communication

Polytechinic University of the Philippines

A POLITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROS AND CONS OF PURSUING EDUCATION IN
THE TIME OF COVID-19 2

Trials and progress are two certainties in the throughline of human achievement and
discovery. Education, as a continuous life process should manifest resilience to temporary
setbacks. At present, its sorely outdated system reveals its weaknesses as it struggles through a
worldwide pandemic. Governing bodies of the education sector laying out plans of flexible
learning systems and accelerating preparations for the eyed opening of A.Y 2020-2021 is a
manifestation that they recognize the need and vital importance of establishing innovative
solutions to make the educational system resilient to the current situation.

The pandemic revealed a spectacle of radical, deep-rooted vulnerabilities in the economic

system that resulted in low resiliency to crises like this (Cohen, 2020). Education, meanwhile, is
similarly in no good place. Despite admittedly stating that the Philippines could “never attain full
readiness” in its shift to digital learning, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said “education
cannot wait” for the Covid-19 vaccine (Ramos, 2020). With the digital divide that is generally
evident in the country, adopting a new system will have to leave out a handful of students who
don't have access to the demands that are critical to successfully carrying out this type of learning.
On the other hand, striving to provide quality education in these unprecedented times may amplify
efforts to confront a plethora of profound, long-standing challenges and address the universal flaw
of the majority of schooling-systems that favor regurgitation of information over inspiring critical
thinking and concept and skill mastery.

Suspension of classes for an entire year will lead to a long cul-de-sac of learning that only
dismisses the chance of improving and keeping up with the pace of how the present circumstances
are changing the country and the world at large. By any chance, limited learning interruption is
better than a full cessation.

Genuine educational opportunities should continue to be provided at all costs. The

government is bound within its obligation to provide its people access to the right of quality
education as stated in the constitution (Philippine Const. art. XIV). It is the primary purpose, duty,
and responsibility of the education sector to provide that right regardless of the type of learning
scenario. Failure in the part of the government to address the gap of compliance among students
violates the guarantees of the Constitution because it falls flat in providing the right on equal terms.
A problem, however, in part of the students due to personal distress because of the changes should
A POLITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROS AND CONS OF PURSUING EDUCATION IN
THE TIME OF COVID-19 3

not be the basis of all. The inability of some to bear the pressure of studying in times like this
should not deprive others of opportunities to pursue their academic growth.

Research procedures and the means of transmission of acquired learning have both made
technology and its integration to the education system undeniably inevitable in this age, regardless
of the Covid-19 situation. Lyotard (1979) wrote in his La condition postmoderne: rapport sur le
savoir, "the nature of knowledge cannot survive unchanged in this context of general
transformation. It can fit into the new channels, and become operational, only if learning is
translated into quantities of information." The advent of the postindustrial age has made changes
in the way learning is acquired, classified, made available, and exploited (Lyotard, 1979).
Accordingly, it only seems appropriate to implement technological innovations as crucial parts of
the future of learning with or without the occurrence of the global pandemic.

Even without the closing of school buildings, education for Filipinos is still in dire need of
reform. The deterioration of the Philippines’ ability to provide the economy with the skills needed,
only points to a discord between school curriculums and the demands of companies (Bris, 2018;
as cited in The Asean Post, 2020). Learning is imperative to the new normal. However, for it to
work amid the challenges of the pandemic, the structure of distance learning can be adjusted. For
instance, course syllabus intended for face-to-face or traditional learning can be calibrated
accordingly in response to the limitations brought about by community quarantine restrictions.
Also, teachers can be more lenient with grading and focus on the essence of education and not
hinder it through the pressure of unnecessarily strict measures such as deadlines and retention
policies. Education is about will, freedom, passion, and not having that passion stamped out by
quarantine limitations nor by a mundane educational system that only focuses on preparing
activities to fit into a clockwork curriculum.

Education cannot wait for the virus may not come soon. Instead, this crisis should be used
as an opportunity to develop greater systemic resilience. Unwilling students may choose to opt-
out of this schoolyear but the circumstances do not have to close the doors to those who are
passionate and devoted to seeking ways to continue learning.
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References

Cohen, P. (n.d.). Straggling in a Good Economy, and Now Struggling in a Crisis. Retrieved July
08, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/business/economy/coronavirus-
economy.amp.html

Lyotard, J. (1994). La condition postmoderne, rapport sur le savoir. Paris: Minuit. (G. Bennington,
B. Massumi,Trans.). Manchester, England: Manchester University Press.

Ramos, C. (2020, June 12). PH can 'never attain full readiness' but education 'cannot wait' -
Briones. Retrieved July 08, 2020, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1290257/ph-can-
never-attain-full-readiness-but-education-cannot-wait-briones

Team, T. (2020, June 05). Philippines needs to improve its education system. Retrieved July 08,
2020, from https://theaseanpost.com/article/philippines-needs-improve-its-education-
system?amp