GOOD, BAD, HYBRID: THE
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The Trainwreck that was #MassPromotion ART JOHN ARGUELLES
Inaccessibility to gadgets. Weak internet connection. Worsening financial status. Mental health issues. Fear of not being able to comply and pass the course. These are the different problems that the PNU students face after the PNU administration rejected the students’ call for mass promotion. Most PNUans, who are continuously suffering because of the pandemic, believe that mass promotion could have helped the most vulnerable of them. It will lessen their academic loads as they face another school year under the new normal set up – the distance learning modality. However, after numerous solidarity protests and online campaigns for mass promotion, the Board of Regents opted to implement an extension of submission of the needed requirements instead – essentially dismissing the studentry's collective demand. Earlier this year, the Philippine Normal University-Executive (PNUExeCom) recommended ending the interrupted third term for the academic school year 2019-2020
due to the continuous spread of the pandemic. Likewise, the Office of the Vice Presidents for Academics (OVPA) suggested four possible options the university can adopt. These options include: 1. Grades of the students will be computed covering the period before ECQ was implemented. However, Term 3 AY. 2019-2020 will not be included in the computation of grades for honors. 2. Grades of the students will be computed covering the period before ECQ was implemented wherein 3 Term AY. 2019-2020 will be included in the computation of grades for honors. 3. Rating the students using nonnumerical grades: PASS, FAIL, or INCOMPLETE. 4.The implementation of mass promotion based on the recommendation of the University Student Council (USC) following result of their survey participated by the students. Rather than heeding to the students’ clamor, PNU implemented a hybrid decision following the directive
of the BOR to extend the completion of third term requirements until December of 2020. Long before the University’s decision, mass organizations and various student organizations presented a comprehensive position paper containing a detailed mass promotion proposal. The students stood firm in their belief that the University administration should have considered the struggle of the students, including the situations of different sectors in the university, in its decision. Mass organizations also spearheaded an online petition, which reached over 2000 signatures to appeal to the members of the BOR. The petition was also followed by simultaneous online campaigns and solidarity statements. The students highlighted numerous reasons they collected that in support of mass promotion. Among these concerns are the digital divide, students’ financial status, inclusivity and compromised learning, mental health, honor roll computation, and current status of stranded dormers.
Digital Divide
Students’ financial status
“Laganap ang kagutuman, kahirapan, takot, at pagka-aligaga sa bawat mamamayang Pilipino, at hindi rin nakakagaan ang mga naging tugon ng gobyerno sa mga ito. Kaya naman, ang pagdaragdag pa ng pangakademikong gawain sa mga pasaning mental, ekonomikal, at pang-kalusugan ay manipestasyon lamang ng patuloy na pagbalewala sa kalagayan ng bawat PNUan,” they pointed out.
Student organizations expressed their concern over the struggle of many students in terms of accessibility. PNU Psychology and Counseling Society said, “Dahil sa pagkabagabag na maaaring idulot ng kagipitan sa magpatong-patong na proyekto, ang mga mag-aaral na nasa hirap na sitwasyon na kumonekta sa internet ay kinakailangang maghanap ng desperadong paraan upang makapagpasa sa isinaad na deadline.” The organization added that this could cause a threat to the student’s health and security or unwanted accidents or other serious problems that might worsen the situation. “Sa ganang amin, ang pagpapalawig ng pagkumpleto at pagsumite ng mga pang-akademikong kahingian hanggang sa katapusan ng Oktubre ng taong kasalukuyan sa pamamagitan ng ‘social media’ at ‘internet’ ay hindi nagpapakita ng pag-unawa at simpatiya,” Kabataang Urduja, explained as proceeding with online completion is lacking sympathy for the students’ struggles.
The PNU Thespian Society, in a statement, recognized that although everybody is facing the same pandemic, varying personal problems could be hindrances to learning. “Bagaman tayo ay nasa iisang pamantasan at humaharap sa parehong krisis na pandemya; Mahalagang ilagay natin ang ating mga paa sa sitwasyon ng bawat estudyante. Dahil ang bawat isa ay nabubuhay sa iba’t ibang sitwasyon at mga pansariling problemang kinakaharap sa kanilang mga tahanan: pisikal, mental, pinansiyal, at iba pang aspeto na maaaring hindi maging angkop bilang isang mabisang lugar ng pagkatuto,” the theatrical organization of students stated. The Alliance of Concerned TeachersEducation Students emphasized important issues a Filipino family has to face amidst the pandemic. Also, additional academic workloads would mean disregarding the PNUANS’ condition.
GRAPHICS ● ALLYSSA MARIE SALVACION
