A Covid-19 Developing Story by RHM Pangarungan The pandemic poses threats to the system of education worldwide. MSU is not an exception. Director Junaina Dimalna and the faculty, registration was conducted both online and faceBy virtue of the Presidential Proclamation No. garnered enough funds to accommodate the to-face, the enrolment process is going smoothly 992, the Mindanao State University suspended primary needs of all twelve students in as planned by the college departments. Or so we its classes since March 12 in order to prevent different cottages and dorms of the university. thought. possible transmission of the CoViD-19 among its Providing them with food supplies such as rice, The DepEd announced that there is still constituents. However, following the suspension sardines, noodles and coffee, Director Dimalna no finished proposal from the department to are more challenging issues that the university, and the Student Government hoped to improve present to the IATF regarding the “new normal” especially the MSU-MSHS had to face. the status of these students. for the following school year; hence, it explains Later, the MSU College Supreme the stagnant situation of most educational Consequence of the Suspension Student Council collaborated with the senior institutions in the country. As of now, most There were 12 identified stranded high SSG on addressing the needs of the universities in the Philippines have conducted MSU-MSHS students in the MSU campus as of stranded senior high school students. closure whilst encouraging online operation for March 23. With the announced community Communications with the students were kept its Masters education at the very least. However, quarantine against the ongoing pandemic, strict constant until the university successfully due to technological and equity gaps, the security protocols were immediately executed provided for these students transportation to absoluteness on the scope of the matter remains in the university and in municipalities causing their hometowns. On May 1, the stranded questionable for most of these universities. As the difficulty to go in and out of the campus. students, accommodated by the university such, some universities resorted to total closure Security checkpoints were assigned all over the buses, finally got home safely to their families. of programs because of these gaps supported by city requiring travel passes from commuters “Thank you so much for helping us to arguments of demographic inequality. Unequal that are noted by the City Health Office and be with our family…Salamat po to our beloved access to educational resources was the highlight respective barangay chairmen. By this reason, MSU President and to everyone who made this for which they have ceased operations. Yet, the many students from the university were not possible,” Ms. Jennica Potestas, one of the suspension resulted to further consequences able to go home, especially that a lot of students stranded senior high students at that time, told affecting student learning outcomes, accessibility anticipated online classes to compensate for the to the university officials as she got reunited to mitigation strategies, nutrition and food said suspension; only to find out that three days with her family in Davao after 1 month and 19 security (mostly to disadvantaged families and after the declared extended suspension of days of being stranded. stranded students), and scholarship classes to April 14, there was a sudden opportunities, which contribute to major fund on revocation of all alternative learning system Terminating 2nd Sem of AY 2019-2020 literacy percentage of the country. Distance activities such as online classes in the With the suspension of classes as well learning, mobilized by alternative modes such as university. The revocation of ALS was because of as Alternative Learning Systems to most online classes, app-based curriculum, etc., stays the raised digital divide thriving in the city and programs, the university announced the the best option at this time. the province of LDS where most students of the conclusion of 2nd semester for the AY 2019The MSU colleges are said to still be university reside. The stagnant period in 2020 on April 20. The MSU Office of structuring the “new normal” approach on education called the MSU’s Board composed of Information, Press and Publication posted on classes at their departments. Blended classes, administrative offices for urgent meeting upon their Facebook page the guidelines for the composed of online and modular classes, is what taking the next step for the terminated termination of the semester as a consequence is being expected by the students for they could semester. of the extension of the Enhanced Community agree that internet connection in Marawi City, Quarantine. Prior to this, students already mainly in the provinces of Lanao Del Sur, is not MSU-MSHS SSG to the Rescue speculated the possibility of mass promotion. as reliable as the connection of the neighboring Students inside the campus were General Guidelines for mass promotion were cities. The digital divide being experienced by the alarmed by the current situation and so made released stating that students who complied community continues to hinder progress in arrangements with relatives and acquaintances with the requirements from January to March learning. By this reason, some departments, for the meantime that the community shall automatically be given the grade “P” for chiefly quota courses, decided to further limit the quarantine is still in effective. Although, there is Passed. There were, however, programs that slots in their respective areas and remake the still a population of students without guardians required strict compliance to additional admission process, specifically the standing or enough financial aid in order to sustain them requirements and online classes, which were criteria for freshmen, now that it is hard for them until the end of effectivity. As such, the MSU- allowed by the university given that student to conduct a college admission test. Many MSHS Supreme Student Government made an safety should not be compromised. students appealed for their entry to these initiative to comply with the Memorandum on No Graduation. As a consequence of colleges. Requesting for reconsideration, the “Monitoring of Travel History of All Students” the mass promotion for health security, public colleges are still on the process of finalizing the from the MSU System Office of the President and gatherings, may it be academic or nonacademic, plans for the “new normal” before appeals are identified the stranded Senior High School are not allowed. As such, there will be no attended to. students in the campus through the SSG’s MSU- graduation ceremony for the graduating batch August, the former “normal” opening of classes, MSHS Student Tracer Google form. of this semester until the situation suggests is getting near, yet the university at large did not From the 437 MSU-MSHS respondents otherwise. Different colleges made the initiative announce any layout plans for the “new normal” on the Google form, there were 12 identified and of at least doing a social distancing pictorial of up until now. When is the official opening of verified stranded students in need of immediate the graduates. On the other hand, the senior classes? How can we conduct our classes while attention and support. While waiting for the high school students could only go as far as a observing social distancing? Students also wait university’s response, the MSU-MSHS SSG letter of intent from the student body for a for the post-COVID development plans from the already gathered information and resources in pictorial. authority. Writing the next steps is as hard as order to best address the needs of these getting various clearances for execution. While students. Having food supplies as the top Welcoming a New (Normal) Academic Year we ask what’s the plan, we could just hope the necessity in the statistics, the SSG, together with As results for qualified students to the system is doing better. university were posted online and pre-
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