See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/344595605

The New Normal in the Philippine Education System

Article · May 2020

CITATIONS READS
0 11,668

1 author:

Neil Guadalquiver
De La Salle Andres Soriano Memorial College
1 PUBLICATION   0 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Neil Guadalquiver on 11 October 2020.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has recently announced that it will have the opening of
classes physically or virtually on 24 August 2020 for the new school year.[1] DepEd Secretary
Leonor Briones must have based her declaration on Republic Act No. 7977.[2] Section 3 of this
law which was passed in 1994 states that a “school year shall start on the first Monday of June but
not later than the last day of August”. She said that she has already forwarded this recommendation
to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).[3] With less than four months to go, is 24 August 2020
really feasible for the opening of classes? What could possibly be the “new norms” in the education
system? In here, I will be providing some possible scenarios and consequences if the opening of
classes will push through come 24 August 2020.

On the issue of holding virtual or online classes, Madam Secretary has suggested that the teaching
methods and curriculum be updated with the emphasis on online teaching.[4] Here, we have a
problem already. Not all students have ready access to the World Wide Web. Even teachers have
limited access to it especially if the area they are in has slow to no connection at all. We know the
Philippines has one of the very slow internet connections among ASEAN countries if not the
slowest.[5] Consequently, holding online classes will be burdensome to both teachers and students.
While video conferencing apps like Zoom can hold for up to 100 participants per meeting, one can
only imagine the kind of class it will have. Not all teachers and students have experienced online
classes thoroughly before. Probably, the only online class a student has experienced is accessing
notes and PowerPoint presentations in Google Classroom. Then, there’s the submission of essays,
book reviews, reflection papers, etc. through Google Drive and the access to reading materials
through Google Docs. Take note, not all have Google accounts so that’s another burden. Another
problem of online classes – which will be part of the “new normal” – is the assessment of the
students’ learning. Outcomes-based education (OBE) will not be put into use this time. In doing
the assessment, there is already a problem with how to achieve it. How can formative and
summative assessments be administered to online students? Surely, it will be paperless exams
which are good for Mother Earth. There are a variety of ways of doing assessment like online oral
exams through video conferencing. But the problem is how can the teacher be assured that the
student is not using any possible form of cheating while having an online oral exam? There is also
the added burden on teachers in checking term papers, etc. While there are plagiarism checkers
and grammar tools available online, free access to these have limitations and subscription to a
premium account requires a fee. Group assessments will no longer be the norm. Performance Tasks
will also be revised. Another problematic scenario that I see in an online class is the checking of
attendance. What if a student fails to connect to the scheduled “meeting” (online class), will that
student be marked absent? On the other hand, if the teacher fails to appear on time for their online
class, will the lesson be moved to another time or day? Some would say that it’s not hard at all
because time slots in online classes are flexible. If it is indeed flexible, who will adjust, the
student/s or the teacher? Things like these usually have problems even before the advent of online
classes. Much worse things will happen if online classes will push through. As I have mentioned
earlier, not all students are ready for it nor are they fully equipped for it. The same thing goes to
the teachers as well.

The department also suggested for the resumption of classes inside classrooms, or what are called
physical classes, but has not released any guidelines yet. Experts led by Dr. Mahar Lagmay from
the UP System suggested that lectures inside classrooms shall be suspended until December of this
year.[6] This is the experts’ recommendation, but the president has not decided on it yet. In the
meantime, these are some possible scenarios and consequences of the “new normal’ in holding
physical classes. Still part of the “new normal” is the observance of social distancing or physical
distancing as I prefer to call it. Knowing that the sizes of classrooms are ideally good for 15 to 20
students only plus the teacher, there will be problems in how students should be seated.[7] Students
should be seated at least a meter apart from each other and the teacher should always maintain a
considerable distance away from the students. Public schools will be having a hard time on how
to strictly implement physical distancing. Lack of classrooms and overcrowding even in open
spaces have always been problems even before this pandemic happened and this will even get the
situation worse.[8] Shifting of classes may only provide temporary relief in this scenario. Provided
that the shortage of classrooms will be addressed, socializing inside will be limited further.
Another thing, there will be fewer class participations like oral recitations. Imagine this situation
where classroom discussions will be done by the teacher while wearing a face mask. Will it really
have an impact on a student’s learning ability? Probably not. But a possible problem that could
arise from this is when the students cannot hear properly or understand fully the lesson because of
the disrupted voice of the teacher in a face mask. While the teacher can always repeat the words,
it is an added burden on their part. Also, group activities will be changed into individual tasking.
There will be lessened collaborative projects in subjects like research and carrying out science
experiments. Like virtual classes, submission of paper works will be done online to avoid frequent
physical contact. Now, in doing written or oral assessments, strict observance of physical
distancing should be done. If there’s the availability of open space with a roof cover, then that’s
preferable. In an oral examination, the teacher shall be seated behind his/her desk while the student
is a couple of meters away from it. This could be done inside a classroom, and only then, that the
oral examination can begin. On the other hand, written exams shall be administered to a certain
number of students per classroom at a time. Still, there is the strict observance of physical
distancing and wearing face masks.

However, the “new normal” in the Philippine education system is only for the fortunate. With the
onset of resuming classes whether physical or virtual, it is clear that education has now become a
privilege rather than a right.[9] Well-off families can easily purchase computer sets/laptops each
for their children while most, even those belonging to the middle class, have only one computer
unit or nothing at all to share. Providing computer units for online classes is not a priority for low-
income families. They would rather prioritize more essential things than spending what is left of
them on dispensable items. The notion that education should not be totally disregarded even in
times of a serious pandemic is a clear indication that it is prioritized over health. Neoliberal policies
still continue to govern the education system even in a health crisis. The government has
overlooked the students’ well-being which is more important than having an education amidst the
threat of infection. If the government is serious enough in opening classes, it should put into
consideration the overall impact of the risk would have on both the teacher and the student
especially in matters like health. Missing a formal education (amidst the COVID-19) is better than
losing one’s life. If the administration fails to come up with more concrete and viable options, then
it continues to become a tool of contemporary capitalism. It only seeks to generate income or
funds while setting aside the safety and health of the people concerned. It is anti-poor and it will
remain as such.[10]

The pandemic is still here, and no one knows when it will end. There is neither cure nor vaccine
available yet. Thus, it is better to further suspend the opening of classes. We may open up our
schools but the most important thing for our children is their health and life uncompromised. In
these trying times, health is more a priority than education amidst a pandemic.[11] After all, physical
and virtual classes will not be feasible if the participants are not around once classes will open on
24 August 2020.

[1]
CNN Philippines, “School year 2020-21 to formally begin on August 24, says DepEd chief,” CNN
Philippines, 5 May 2020. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/5/5/deped-august-2020-school-
year-opening.html, 28 May 2020.
[2]
This refers to “AN ACT TO LENGTHEN THE SCHOOL CALENDAR FROM TWO HUNDRED
(200) DAYS TO NOT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED TWENTY (220) CLASS DAYS” also known as
RA 7977 which was signed into law by the former president Fidel V. Ramos on 25 August 1994.
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1994/08/25/republic-act-no-7977/, 28 May 2020.
[3]
Bonz Magsambol, “DepEd considers August as class opening for school year 2020-2021,” Rappler. 21
April 2020. https://www.rappler.com/nation/258557-deped-considers-august-class-opening-school-year-
2020-2021, 28 May 2020.
[4]
Department of Education, “Learning while staying at home: Teachers, parents support DepEd distance
learning platform,” Department of Education, 20 March 2020.
https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/03/21/learning-while-staying-at-home-teachers-parents-support-deped-
distance-learning-platform/, 28 May 2020.
[5]
Victor Barreiro Jr., “How fast are internet speeds in ASEAN countries?”, Rappler, 9 November 2017.
https://www.rappler.com/technology/news/187862-internet-speeds-asean-countries, 28 May 2020.
[6]
CNN Philippines, “UP experts propose no classes until December to stop COVID-19 spread,” CNN
Philippines, 21 April 2020. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/21/UP-experts-class-suspensions-
December-COVID-19.html, 28 May 2020.
[7]
Janvic Mateo, “15 To 20 Students In A Class Being Studied As Schools Open on Aug. 24,” One News,
6 May 2020. https://www.onenews.ph/15-to-20-students-in-a-class-being-studied-as-schools-open-on-
aug-24, 28 May 2020.
[8]
Matthew Reysio-Cruz, “School opening woes: Many students, few classrooms,” Inquirer.net, 4 June
2019. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1126414/school-opening-woes-many-students-few-classrooms, 28
May 2020.
[9]
Derik Cumagun, “For Students, Online Classes is Only For the Privileged,” Esquire, 2 April 2020.
 https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/opinion/online-classes-privilege-a2472-20200402-lfrm, 28 May
2020.
[10]
CNN Philippines, “August school opening should be subject to evaluation amid COVID-19 crisis –
solon,” CNN Philippines, 25 May 2020. https://www.cnn.ph/news/2020/5/25/August-school-reopening-
should-be-subject-to-review-COVID-DepEd.html, 28 May 2020.
[11]
Bonz Magsambol, “No student left behind? During pandemic, education ‘only for those who can
afford’,” Rappler, 22 May 2020. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/261562-education-only-
for-people-who-can-afford-coronavirus-pandemic, 28 May 2020.

View publication stats