A Study of "Philippine Children are Left Behind by Poor Distance Learning" by Michael Betran

As the integration of technology becomes more prevalent in all facets of life nowadays,
the COVID-19 pandemic occurs, bringing more exaggerated beneficial and detrimental effects.
In an article published by Betran (2021), he emphasizes how the distance-learning system
applied in the Philippines demonstrates the issue of educational inequality - students, parents,
and instructors.

To further, it is stated in the survey report that 53 percent of distance learning students
were uncertain of their learning, and only 7 in 10 were convinced of completing the school year;
also, the reassurance of concluding the pandemic is the cause for the occurrence of
face-to-face classes. Nonetheless, before the pandemic, it was discussed that the country was
already having educational difficulties, with the Philippines ranking last among 79 countries
(reading comprehension) in the global study Global Connectivity Index Report. Additionally, the
article demonstrates that students who are fortunate in terms of money have a greater capacity
to learn better than those who are unfortunate, indicating the educational disparity between rich
and poor.

“Online learning is not the next big thing, it is now the big thing,” Donna Abernathy once
said. It is the statement that individuals should completely grasp by integrating online learning.
The citizens should envision and deepen their understanding of the quotation that shows that
online learning is now taking place, with major consequences for students. Secondly, it stands
with the onset of a disease epidemic that forces students to choose between dropping out and
continuing, which would generate an education gap in comparison to other countries, which may
also pose a potential threat to the learner's growth.

By this means, citizens of the country have no option but to embrace reality and the
obstacles they face in this developing digitalization; also, the utilization of these online learning
platforms has yet to be shown in providing satisfaction to any students. The use of modular
learning alleviates the issue of technology consumption, although there are still issues.
According to the article, 87 percent of students have a persistent problem with getting lessons
study modules that they pick up at designated drop-off points since they're not guaranteed of
gaining knowledge thoroughly, which sometimes the parents are the ones who answer, causing
cheating a more serious problem. One example of this is Aneste Faedelin, a mother of two
students who chose modular learning, who had a problem printing the modules since it abruptly
stopped working; she had to resort to paying for mobile data merely to access the lessons, but
her husband's income is quite inconsistent. In addition, she mentioned that her daughter has
difficulty completing her schoolwork at home; previously, she had earned high honors, but now
she has none. "I don't comprehend her classes. I have to confer with her instructors, and the
internet is terrible, so I can't explain anything. I don't blame the teachers; I blame the messed-up
system and insufficient pandemic reaction," she added.
 Based on my thoughts regarding these societal difficulties, the socioeconomic status
divide between households demonstrates the distance-learning division, which has long-term
consequences for students since underprivileged sectors lack adequate internet access,
gadgets, and resources. The country's condition, pandemic, made digital learning more difficult;
this scenario leads to the country's poverty since it prevents the equality of accessible
education. As a result, it has been demonstrated that public school students are more likely to
experience emotional discomfort as a result of financial concerns, leading them to assume they
are a burden on their families. To solve these issues, the government should provide incentives
to individuals impacted for them to have a better digital education and gain access to the
internet. Furthermore, there should be a drive to reduce COVID-19 instances by adopting the
essential strategies to reopen the school safely, which will assist to bridge the digital gap that
causes most students to be left behind in this poor distance learning environment.

I conclude that there are several methods to influence other people to become better
citizens through action, such as how the appropriate use of technology may assist to
disseminate factual information or make digital environments safer, which represents the
essence of one another. Considering social media is widely used nowadays, I can use it as a
platform to promote human shiftings as well as provide encouragement to digital citizens around
the country through the use of posters, infographics, and other digital designs.

References:

- Pappas, C. (2021, July 6). 23 Inspirational eLearning Quotes For eLearning

Professionals. eLearning Industry. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from

https://elearningindustry.com/inspirational-elearning-quotes-for-elearning-professionals

- PH ranks 59 out of 79 countries in the 2020 Global Connectivity Index. (n.d.). ICT

Knowledge Portal. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from

https://dict.gov.ph/ictstatistics/ph-ranks-59-out-of-79-countries-in-the-2020-global-conne

ctivity-index/#:%7E:text=released%20the%20Global%20Connectivity%20Index,with%2

0a%20score%20of%2081.

- Writer, S. (2021, August 9). Philippine children are left behind by poor distance learning.

Nikkei Asia. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from

https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Philippine-children-are-left-behind-by-poor-distanc

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