Lighthouse: The guide to surviving the storm

■ Written by Precious Niña Apuya and Hazel Ann Aligando

Updated by Terrence Azañes & John Paul Barrosa

e are all in the same boat in this pandemic.”

As cliché as it may seem, as the pandemic brought a gigantic shift in what is “normal,” everyone has no choice but to adapt, even in the academe.

As the premier Jesuit institution in Bicol, Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) has to prove its excellence in this ocean of challenges. Launched under the banner of AteNEO Normal, the university aims to reconcile the constraints brought by the pandemic that challenge quality education. AteNEO Normal highlights the transition from the traditional into a flexible way of learning while helping students and professors alike cope with the new modality.

Still, storms are part of life in the ocean: barely surviving in an online set-up, a literal parade of typhoons has drowned everyone even more. The week-long power restoration adds to the numerous problems they are already experiencing.

No one is spared; we are all in the same boat. But are we really?

Go with the flow

According to a 2021 poll conducted by ThePILLARS Publication, 88.1% of 101 randomly selected students feel left behind with the online modality given the situation; only 11.9% can catch up.

For Val, a 1st-year BS Accountancy student at the time, his freshman year does not feel like being a freshman at all. Aside from the usual adjustments of the transition from being a senior high school (SHS) to a college student, the new modality also affects the way he performs. It is more on coping and surviving. Besides, he stated that he is not quite satisfied with AdNU’s existing policies, saying that there are still a lot of improvements to be made.

A 2nd-year student from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences states that “the university and its people is [sic] not ready for this adjustment.” Aside from them, various students from different colleges also share the same viewpoint. However, some students are satisfied with the current guidelines. “AteNEO Normal provides flexible learning for all,” according to a 1st-year student from the College of Science and Engineering.

Despite the university’s efforts to reconcile the impediments brought by the pandemic, not all the students were able to grasp these changes, thus pushing their limits. Either they find ways to keep up with others, or they will continue to be left behind.

Survival of the Fittest

Converge was the Internet provider for Tina, a 5th year BS Civil Engineering student. Still, due to their unsatisfactory service, she changed her internet provider to point-topoint (P2P). Good for Tina that she was able to switch to a better internet provider, but not everyone has this option.

Online classes expose the daunting reality that education favors the privileged. We have students whose gadgets are optimized for online classes, have secured internet connections, and even have a penny to spare for the Lazada 5.5 sale. But then, some rely on the mercy of their phones and mobile data.

Although online classes have lessened expenses on lodging, transportation, and allowances, these perks are counteracted by the incremental expenses of buying a decent gadget, paying fees to the internet providers, or loading mobile data. This is especially true for students who rely on computer shops or AdNU’s Electronic Resource Center (ERC). Furthermore, the fact that there has been no decrease in the university’s tuition fee brings their expenses close to or even higher than when there were face-to-face classes.

Tasks also rely heavily on technological resources. Submitting video presentations requires working cameras and fast internet upload speeds. Open-camera exams on other platforms risk disconnection, and synchronous sessions in Google Meet consume excessive data. And while Xavier Hub is open for students, it either risks contracting the virus or is inaccessible due to distance.

Those with sufficient resources are guaranteed smooth sailing, but those without are in for a tough time.

Turbulent Waves of Life

Aside from the storm brought on by this pandemic, students are also being hit by turbulent waves. Their lives do not mainly revolve around the academe, for they too have lives outside of it. Besides the hurdles of the number of workloads they have, they also struggle with various personal problems, which can result in unproductivity.

For Tina, aside from being a student, she also has tita duties. Since the start of the pandemic, she has lived with her siblings and was asked to take care of her niece. Because of this, less time was allotted to her academics, making her lose her focus.

In online classes, the fact that students can control their own time does not necessarily mean that they will devote it to education alone. However, sometimes, professors tend to forget to consider these limitations. Because of this, students find it challenging to draw the line between their personal and academic lives.

Be the lighthouse that you are

It is the lighthouse that helps sea vessels navigate through stormy nights, much like how AdNU should be towards its students. With the issues encountered in the university’s online classes, AdNU ought to take a more proactive approach to providing appropriate remedies.

In an interview with Vice President for Higher Education (VPHE) Dr. Alfredo C. Fabay, AdNU has to comply with requirements released by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the conduct of online classes. AdNU also implemented guidelines, like limiting synchronous sessions and allowing professors to modify the class standing portion of the grading system, among other things. But it is not enough that these guidelines were crafted per CHED’s requirements. As an autonomous university, AdNU has greater liberty to make policies that better fit its stakeholders. Furthermore, consultation with the student body is a must, especially since it is the students who are most affected by the policies. Satisfying both parties is impossible, but concessions can be made on both sides. Students are provided with ways to raise their concerns with the administration; however, VPHE Fabay claimed that students do not utilize these means. Concerns regarding professors can be sent through their department’s accounts or by reaching out to the professor themselves. However, it is important to consider the hesitation of students in using these platforms, particularly due to the lack of anonymity, the response of the professors concerned, and the repercussions of the student’s complaint. Hence, it is not just about having the means to express concerns but also about the consequences it brings.

However, the AteNEO Normal’s effectiveness is affirmed by a 3rd Year BS Computer Science student stating, “Looking at it long term, it was a necessary short term decision to ensure that the majority of the students would be able to adapt as smoothly as possible to this kind of learning.” He believes that AdNU’s efforts had the students’ best interests in mind; besides the previous example, the university also started the integration of faceto-face classes later than other institutions such as the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) and Universidad de Sta. Isabel (USI).

Keep sailing on…

In 2023, AdNU students were interviewed to give insights about their experiences during the peak of online classes, as well as the transition to blended online learning.

Jona, a 4th year BSED - English student, stated that she has survived the online classes because of her access to resources and is fortunate enough to have a scholarship. But she admits that not all students can keep up with the online modality. She added that she prefers both online and face-to-face classes since both modalities have their advantages. Through online classes, she was able to juggle her tasks efficiently, while face-to-face classes are better set up for immersive learning.

Tony, a 3rd year Electronics Engineering student, reveals that at first he was not able to catch up with the online modality, but with time he found a way to keep up with his classes online. He also shared his sentiments about online classes being unhealthy for him, due to their overconvenience and lack of true learning—that is also why he preferred face-to-face classes more.

Both of them said that they cannot completely decide which type of modality works best for the student body since it differs for every individual.

Calming the storm

Everyone may have been living in the storm stirred by the pandemic, but we are never in the same boat. As students continue to be in physical, mental, and emotional distress, AdNU must not remain a mere observer; it has the pivotal role of guiding its constituents through the hardships posed by this blended set-up.

Nevertheless, the balance of these modalities is a welcome change from the predominant online classes. There is a significant positive difference in the manner in which Ateneans are now able to manage their responsibilities compared to two years ago. Despite the positive feedback from blended learning, AdNU must not lose sight that the standard is still the total acclimation of its constituents to the current learning arrangement.