Name: Fionna Palicpic Date: 05-13-2022

Academic Freeze Will Do More Harm Than Good

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the education system of many countries
around the world. Many schools and universities have to disrupt their traditional face-to-face
classes to ensure public health safety, while it helps to stop the transmission of the virus
another problem has arisen. With the pandemic ongoing, there have been debates on how
education should be implemented for the new academic year. The Philippine education
system used distance learning modalities such as online learning, printed modules, or blended
learning. However, there have been many students, parents, and other education officials that
call for a halt in primary and higher education.

An academic freeze is when all educational activities, including regular classroom and
distance or online education, stop for a specified period. Many Facebook posts or memes and
Twitter tweets can be seen of debates and arguments related to academic freeze as they also
release their pent-up stress and frustration with the current system. There are almost a fair
number of people who agree and disagree with the implementation of the academic freeze.
However, many disagree the implementation of an academic freeze will do more harm than
good. With the current situation, it is impractical for many school personnel and teachers to
lose their job as our country is facing an economic slowdown.

Distance learning modalities may be new for many students, but it is assured that it
will work since many educators are putting effort into making the lesson easily
understandable and accessible. In addition, many college students are due to graduate within
a year; halting graduation is damaging to the economy, politics, and future of a country.

A lot of people pushing for an academic freeze have several valid reasons. Many of
them argue that if the government continues education at this time of crisis, many students
will fall behind in the educational quality since distance learning offers low-quality education
which is why they promote “No Child Left Behind”. Moreover, not everyone can afford the
technology needed for learning and many parents cannot guide their children to help them
learn in their working modules because either they are busy making money or didn't reach the
educational level their children are taking. Aside from this, it would burden many families as
the tuition fee is not reduced yet many parents lose their job and are dealing with making
ends. There are also many unprivileged Filipino who can't even find any source of income,
hence it is a challenge for them to pay for their children's education. (Greten, 2020)

They also claim that distance learning modalities including online learning, printed
modules, or blended learning, do not work. Educators and teachers are not just lecturers who
will relay knowledge to students; they also aid the development of motor and social skills.
Distance education may deliver the knowledge, information, and processes about the lessons
and topics, but it cannot develop motor and social skills. There are also problems with the
lack of motivation among Filipino students because many of them prefer the traditional
learning method. Their lack of motivation is due to difficulty in adaptation to the new
learning style, unclear course outcomes, poor communication with their teachers, and
frustration in social isolation. (Sape et al, 2020)

For better quality and safe education, many agree that there should be an academic
freeze until a vaccine is available. The method of off-site and on-site learning is said to be
lacking empathy as schooling amid facing an economic and health crisis is the same as
sacrificing the existence for the sake of academic grades; this method of learning targets, not
the students’ time management but their mental health state. (Sape et al, 2020)

All the reasons to impose an academic freeze are valid, but it is an inadequate reason.
The idea of “No Child Left Behind” is unrealistic and blinds people to an idealistic sense of
equality. Without the pandemic, education has never been equal. Many private schools offer
better space and equipment for learning like updated laboratories and best condition
classrooms yet many public schools nationwide conduct their classes in unsuitable
environments like under the tree or old classrooms and evacuation centers when there is a
calamity. If there should be educational equality, then the government must forbid private
schools from learning because they have these advantages, or the private schools should
conduct classes in the same manner as public schools. The pandemic did not create
educational inequality; it only emphasized the inequality that already exists. (Greten, 2020)

Professor Jayeel Cornelio, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) director of the

development studies program, said that imposing a nationwide academic break can make
students “...lose the momentum of studying.” An academic freeze for a year is a relief for
students from their school activities and teachers from their stressful making of lesson
materials, but this would eventually affect their motivation for learning. Cornelio said that “it
takes time for students to feel motivated again” after a two-week semester break, “how much
more if it is more than two weeks?” The smartest ones can always catch up, but it is
important to consider those of the “weakest link.” (Magsambol, 2020)

If an academic freeze is implemented, many teachers will lose their jobs; not only
them but many members of the school personnel and administration will lose their job. In this
time of the pandemic, where our country is facing an economic slowdown, many businesses
have closed and people have lost their jobs, we do not want those teachers and school
personnel to add up to the number of people who have lost their jobs. (Greten, 2020)

Many college students are due to graduate within a year. Some of them are graduating
to take jobs that are much needed during the pandemic, such as nurses, medical technicians,
medical practitioners, computer engineers, and entrepreneurs. Implementing an academic
freeze will halt the students who are due to graduate, prevent them from applying for a job or
looking for their source of income and deny the workforce our society needs during this
crisis. (Greten, 2020)

According to Rise for Education - UP Diliman (2020), an academic freeze is only a

band-aid to the worsening situation brought about by the pandemic. This will only give the
government a delay in their response as it will lengthen the timeline of the government in
dealing with the pandemic, and a lengthened timeline only means the delay of mass testing
and vaccination or other proper medical solutions.

In conclusion, an academic freeze may be good and a relief for many students and
those who support it, but it will do more harm than good. The reason is with the current
situation, it is impractical for many school personnel and teachers to lose their job as our
country is facing an economic slowdown. In addition, many college students are due to
graduate within a year; halting graduation is damaging to the economy, politics, and future of
a country. Lastly, distance learning modalities may be new for many students, but it is assured
that it will work since many educators are putting effort into making the lesson easily
understandable and accessible.

Innovation is the key. With the crisis, it allows us to learn, improve, and make
solutions. Our time might not have the best educational quality, but with trust, patience, and
intelligence, things will work out well.

References:

G. (2020, August 7). Should we resort to academic freeze during the pandemic? »

Ititser. Ititser.

https://www.ititser.com/should-we-resort-to-academic-freeze-during-the-pandemic/

Magsambol, B. (2020, November 27). School time out during a pandemic? Pros and

cons of an academic break. RAPPLER.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/pros-cons-academic-break-philippines-during-

covid-19-pandemic/

Rise for Education - UP Diliman

https://www.facebook.com/r4eUPDiliman/photos/iv-why-isnt-academic-freeze-the-be

st-optionc-academic-freeze-is-only-a-band-aid-/1781186068686891/
Sape, E. J. B., Aquino, B. M. R., & Olivar, A. I. G. (2020, June 1). Academic freeze is

the new normal. Daily Guardian. Academic freeze is the new normal - Daily Guardian