Safety Last

Observing water slowly losing its essence is like safety protocols without followers—it leads only to destruction.

The components that make up water – hydrogen and oxygen – are never lost, only separated. But, if humans fail to follow the protocol, and add an agent to separate these two noble gasses from each other, we run the risk of losing all three components. Leading to an alarming state that is now an underlying concern in Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School.

Health protocols have been a major concern for every individual that gives them confidence in visiting places. The health protocols that everyone sees as a savior and act to control the spread were barely observed in MOGCHS during the Grade 10 level moving up pictorial. In almost a month-long activity for the students in the Grade 10 level, safety protocols received the bare minimum focus from the students and other personnel involved. Unexpectedly, the implementation and observance by the school nurse devastatingly turned out to be only an error in its statement. There were no health protocols followed during the yearbook pictorial activity for their moving up a souvenir. The presence of alcohol and sanitation stations has cast a shadow on the pictorial. The checking of vaccination cards of students was not regulated. The expected assistance by the classroom adviser to help control the students was scarcely noticed and some were nowhere to be found. This leads to a more alarming state, as COVID-19 is still a threat despite being under Alert Level 1, and the wide expanse of face-toface classes.

“No choice but (to) simply ignore the reckless actions by the

It starts with money, as it so continually does in Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS). As the whole school community continues to embark on the flexible learning modality this fourth semester of SY. 2021-2022, the circulating controversies about the financial quandaries in the school have stayed disrupted.

Students still receive requests from teachers and school staff to financially support specific activities and things that were already a part and responsibility of the school budget during the pandemic, making it one of the causes of a financial burden as many parents have lost their jobs that led to a significant and unprecedented deterioration of mental health.

“Lisod mangitag kwarta labi na nga adunay pandemya. Ma-stress ko usahay sa mga bayronon sa eskwelahan, pero maningkamot nalang jud ko para sa akong anak.” (It’s hard to make money especially when we are in a pandemic. I get stressed sometimes with the school fees, but I am trying my best just to provide for my kid.) Jocelyn Banuag, 43, shares her frustrations about the school fees as she submits her sons’ modules for the last quarter.

Within the collection of money and the school’s initiative, a question hangs, masking an underlying mystery that needs to be entirely addressed: Why does the school specifically, students,” Judy Rey C. Jumamoy, the assigned teacher for the pictorial of the students, said.

CANTEEN VENDORS AT GREATER RISK

Following safety, protocols are valuing the lives of others. After successfully getting the chance to sell inside the campus, the canteen vendors, who were also present during the whole month-long pictorial of the Grade 10 students, are at a higher risk. Compared to how the health protocols during the pictorial were inadequate to health protocol standards, the canteen vendors adhere to each and every health protocol for the safety of both the seller and buyer. The school is taking the risk without proper preparation and consideration of how their decisions would affect others. Dr.

Nenita R. Bacol, MOGCHS school nurse eagerly stated how strict they have been during these challenging times, with all the requirements to be observed by the vendors, namely the hairnet, mask, gloves, and sanitizing every item after the vendors finish selling. It is still of no help since the school is lacking and the people are not valuing the health protocols.

UNPREPARED ENVIRONMENT, RISKY DEVELOPMENT

Safety is said to be paramount on campus. The safety of everyone must be valued and is a major concern.

MOGCHS preparations and safety precautions, as of the moment, are now said to be committed to ensuring that all of the students, teachers, and visitors remain safe from harm.

The guards assigned to check everyone entering the school were aware and are strict when it comes teachers from different departments soldier on collecting money from parents during the pandemic when the school has discretionary funds and an operating budget?

From payments to refunds and other monetary operations, the General Parents-Teachers Association (GPTA) office is the central department that could cater to these concerns, making it one of the most important offices in the school.

It is very unfortunate how the school is not receiving sponsorships from the government and nongovernment units. The only source of funds used for the programs and activities is the GPTA contribution from the parents during the pandemic.

If they already have money contributions from the parents, what is the actual point of collecting money for the ‘Barya sa Pandemya’ and the modification of the reading clinic and club parks? MOGCHS is evidently a goal-oriented school, but they are unable to look for the downside of the situation before proposing something.

Financial stress is not an easy thing to cope with. It can not be solved for a day. Unless you won the lottery, then you could solve any financial problem you have. But, what are the real chances of winning a lottery?

With the big stake chances at 1 out of 5 million, it would cost P5,245,786 million to purchase each and every combination. You will be rat poor to letting the students enter the school premises. No face mask, no entry. However, countless teachers and students who are working and visiting the school are still against the statement that the school is prepared. before coming up with the perfect combination.

As stated by the teachers, after following the memorandum given by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones to prepare the classrooms for the New Normal Setup, the school directly complied on this. Earlier this year, for the classroom and school evaluation, they spent their own money on the materials that should be bought to ensure a safe classroom. It took them over two months to become fully equipped with the things and present a properly responsible classroom that inspects and values individuals’ health.

As the school anticipates possible face-to-face classes, all preparations made for the classrooms, health protocols, sanitation items that must be present, and overall preparations are yet to be seen and observed on the campus.

With over 200 plus classrooms in MOGCHS, not all are considered to be ready. Only two classrooms are expected to experience faceto-face classes again. Plenty of classrooms have been acquired which is said to be inappropriate as it lets the bacteria stick to them. The overall compliance of the school is inconsistent and vulnerable. Some classrooms fail the IATF standards. Individuals entering the campus are irresponsible and not aware of the virus.

There is an underlying risk for all personnel entering the school premises. There are only a few that were prepared and mostly unprepared.

Monetary problems can negatively affect your psychological and actual health, your connections, and your general personal satisfaction. Feeling subjugated by money issues can antagonistically influence your sleep cycle, confidence, and energy levels. While we all know deep down inside that there are a lot more fundamental things in life than cash, while you are struggling, financial dread and stress can control your world and according to HelpGuide, it can lead to sleep deprivation, weight gain, or loss, build tension, relationship challenges, and unfortunate ways of dealing with tough times like drinking and the like.

Faced with a massive change in the outlook to manage the school’s respective financial obligations, consideration may be placed when catering issues in regard to the extent of financial matters that affect the mental health of families.

The simple effort of legitimate prioritization, wise and honest money management, consideration in times of difficulty, and a receptive system, might be sufficient to facilitate the problems of the school’s measly budget that is scarcely covering expenses and a school that barely sees the struggles and challenges of its students and parents during the pandemic.

art by Kent John L. Eduave