ANGKAL, ROSAIFFAH K.

BSEd- ENGLISH 3B

Editorial: Face-to-face classes must continue TITLE

SunStar

August 22, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by John Gilbert Manantan

The first day of School Year 2022-2023 for elementary and high school
students happened on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022; however, the learning
INTRODUCTION modality is still blended: three days of face-to-face classes and two days
of distance learning modalities. The in-person classes will be fully
implemented come Nov. 2.

The Philippines pushed through with the school opening after the in-
person classroom setting was suspended for two years due to the
coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Though there were limited
face-to-face classes in selected areas where Covid-19 cases were very
low, the opening of the academic year happened as if the situation was
BODY already normal.

The pandemic is not yet over and the virus that carries Covid-19 is still a
threat. Now, here are the questions: Must the Education officials led by
their secretary, Vice President Sara Duterte, still fear the Covid-19 threat? If
the cases increase again, would the government decide to return to the
teaching methods implemented during the pandemic?
 The Philippines has been slow in returning to the conduct of in-person
classes. Other countries have already returned to learning in a classroom
setting.

Several young students have struggled with online and distance learning
modalities. Learning at home or via the internet is not an ideal type of
acquiring knowledge because there are so many distractions—noise in
BODY the neighborhood, online games, television shows etc. Some students
cannot learn their lessons well because their parents did the research and
answered the assignments.

The quality of education in the past two years has indeed deteriorated.
Even before the pandemic, the education sector had been problematic.
A 2021 World Bank study states that nine out of 10 Filipino children could
“not read a simple text with comprehension” by age 10 pre-pandemic.

Since the classroom is still the better venue where students can acquire
CONCLUSION knowledge and skills, the government must not look back. It must
continue the in-person classes and improve the country’s quality of
education.

SOURCE:

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1938640/cebu/opinion/editorial-face-to-face-
classes-must-continue