THE GOOd, THE BAd, ANd THE HyBRId: The Trainwreck that was #MassPromotion

THE GOOD,THEBAD,

AND THEHYBRID: 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

Digital Divide

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.

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

Students’ financial status

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.

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.

“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.

Exclusionary education

Inclusive learning and quality education are among the goals of PNU as the National Center for Teacher Education, and the students think that the referendum failed to adhere to the said goals.

PNU Social Science Club said that the decision is not inclusive since not everyone could comply with online submission of requirements. “Ang pag-gamit ng social media at internet bilang lunsaran ng pagtuturo, pagkatuto, at pagsumite ng mga pangakademikong kahingian ay hindi inklusibo dahil hindi niyo nasasaklaw ang pagkalahatang kalagayan ng mga estudyante.” In an open letter addressed to those who see mass promotion as a hindrance to quality education, PNU TEKSTURA artist Mary Rose Tolentino posed a thought-provoking line, “If quality for you means endangering oneself just to go to computer shops, risking their lives for the sake of compliance, or sacrificing their budget for food for an internet connection that would not even last for a whole day, you might want to rethink your basis for quality.” The University Student Council (PNU-USC) and Student Electoral Commission (SEC) are firm that learning is not limited to a numerical value. “Kami ay naniniwala na hindi lamang ang nimerikal na grado ang sumatan ng pagkatuto.”

The English Club (TEC), insisted that while the need for numerical ratings is understandable, it should not be the focus during this time.

Impact to mental health

The PNU Psychology and Counseling Society explained that anxiety, panic, and depression are some of the mental health disturbances students are prone to experience given the current situation.

Citing an article from the Philippine Star, the organization said, “Ang mga mag-aaral ng pamantasan ay may kaniyakaniyang isyung kinakaharap; hindi lamang sa araw-araw na pamumuhay, kundi pati na rin sa pansariling kapakanan na dulot ng kawalan ng katiyakan sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon.”

Dormers who are stranded are also vulnerable to mental health issues, Annyeong PNU added.

For PNU Katalonan, deprivation of the normal lives people used to have, and physical and mental sufferings are enough reason to push forth the approval of mass promotion.

Given all these points, student organizations’ campaign for mass promotion gained support from the current Student Regent and Chairperson of the National Union of Student Governments (PNU-NUSG) Hon. Alexis Q. Sebote. Furthermore, the student regent argued that favoring mass promotion does

not compromise the quality of education that PNU upholds. "Ang pagtugon ng pamantasan sa ating panawagan ay hindi pagkompromiso sa kalidad ng edukasyon na matagal na nitong ipinamamalas bagkus ay pagpapakita lamang ito ng tunay na pag-unawa at malasakit sa mga mag-aaral na pangunahing sektor nito," Sebote stated.

Continuing academic burden

The University also opened its classes on August 27 despite the University Student Council's (USC) survey on students' unreadiness. Students’ dismay led to online outrage expressed in the hashtags #PinaasaAllOverAgain and #LigtasNaBalikEskwelaPNU, which trended on twitter.

ACT Education Students (ACT-ES) spearheaded an online protest to express their frustrations and suggestions. "Walang internet, walang gadget, walang conducive environment for learning, walang capacity to sustain online studies, walang proper guidance in learning, wala ring mastery ng gadgets and platforms. #PinaasaAllOverAgain #LigtasNaBalikEskwelaPNU," @ jeyenkyubi tweeted.

ACT-ES demanded the government to prioritize the health sector to realize a safe school opening. "Maisasakatuparan lamang ang tunay na ligtas na balik-eskwela kung solusyong medikal ang itutugon sa pandemya," they argued.

Despite reassuring that the initial two weeks of the class resumption is only for simulation and will not affects student’s grades, PNUans continued their clamor for a safe, accessible, and inclusive education.

As of now, PNU students are already taking their first term in the new normal mode of learning. However, the last term's unfinished requirements continue to add up to their burden during the current academic year. As the student body proposes a mental health break, there is an undeniable need to lessen the students' academic tasks. It could have been avoided if the BOR followed the students' plea earlier.

The University administration has a lot to learn from this. The experience serves as profound proof of the need to prioritize the stakeholders' demands, especially the students. As the National Center for Teacher Education (NCTE), PNU should embody the true essence of education that is beyond numerical grades. The welfare of the students and the community must remain the top priority of any educational institution. With the core values of truth, excellence, and service, the University is bound to lead the struggle for an inclusive education that is a right and not a privilege.

With the core values of truth, excellence, and service, the University is bound to lead the struggle for an inclusive education that is a right and not a privilege.