“The Pleading Tears Behind The Screens”
Did you know over 17 cases of student suicide that happened last year are caused by Online/Blended Learning? Will your child be next? Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, schools and other teaching institutes were forced to cease operating which means that the traditional way of learning was stopped as a safety precaution for students in order to stop the spreading of the virus. But, the Department of Education introduced and presented Online/Blended Learning as a new alternative way of learning while in the midst of this pandemic. This way of learning has started around August 24 for private schools and October 5 for public schools. It is normal for some countries while for the Philippines it is new. However, despite the efforts of the government to ready all students for this way of learning the students are still having problems when it comes to online classes which leads them to be left behind by other students and to be stress. That is why today, I will show you some of the reasons why there must be a change in the system of doing online/blended learning and a need for academic break for students in order for them to accept online learning and to be happy.
First, the lack of material of students, teachers and schools in order to do online classes which causes the learning of a child to be delayed. According to Rappler News, only 7 regions of the Philippines are capable of keeping up in printing modules in order for students to learn while the rest are below average. While, according to ABS-CBN News, thousands of teachers and students lack/do not have any gadgets in order to do online classes. Lastly, Philstar News stated that: “…over 6.8 million noted lack of available gadgets and equipment suitable for distance learning (both teachers and students).” These reports serve as call for us that the government need to further improve our support and aid to all so that online/blended learning would be efficient for the students. If these kinds of reports continue, then students and teachers would really have a hard time in coping and learning with this way of learning. If students are not learning, it would cause more problems for our countries such as low literacy rate, mental problems brought by stress of not being able to participate in online classes.
Second, the unstable Internet Connection of students are causing them to be left out of the online discussion. According to Philstar News, more than 6.9 million cited that they have unstable or no internet/mobile connection and 6.2 million citied that they do not have the money for load and data allowance to be use for online learning. There were also reports that people who are living in rural and high places have the lowest signal which causes them to have a hard time in getting their modules and learning online. The connection of gadgets is important because online discussions are not playable or repeatable. The student will not learn anything if he/she will hear only some parts of the discussion or will be present in the discussion to only hear the teacher for one second then will pause for seconds due to the signal.
Lastly, the work coming from school combine with house-chores are causing students to became tired and stress which lead them to be depress. According to Philstar News, 1.7 million students are having conflict with other activities such as house chores. As online learning continues, People are also having a more difficult life since most of the people lost their jobs due to the pandemic. This forced some of the students to do work or to have small jobs in order to make money in order to feed themselves. Every student has a different set of chores to do in the home. That is why sometimes, the students are left so tired after online classes and are stress out with the requirements and deadlines that they are needed to be passed. This leads them to become depress which causes them to have a mental breakdown and/or commit suicide. As reported by Inquirer News, over 17 cases of student suicides are brought by online classes. This proves that students are in need of an academic break and that the schools should limit the school works that they give to the students.
In conclusion, there are many problems that the students are now facing in online classes, problems with material, connection and responsibilities at home. I hope that I was able to open your hearts and minds to show that there’s a need to change the system and a need of rest for the students. Now, there are many ways to help the students. The government can further their support and help the people concerned with online/blended learning. The parents and teachers can help students by removing or limiting the things that they need to do at home and school. But, for all of these to happen it is up to us. So, will you make your stand to help all the students?
