Bring face-to-face classes back vs. Making online classes last

Two years into the pandemic, the Philippines has gradually adapted to the ‘new normal,’ now, more schools are considering reopening for School Year 2022-2023. However, the public is contemplating whether the schools should reopen or just stick with their current system.

With the help of safety protocols, guidelines, and vaccines, people were able to go back to normal but with restrictions that are called the ‘new normal.’ It is a new way of living while the pandemic is not yet defeated.

Because of this, more schools are considering reopening for the next school year including Adamson University. On April 6, 2022, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Catherine Q. Castañeda, announced that the university will implement “PhysiFlex” for School Year 2022-2023.

It is a combination of face-to-face classes and online and offline learning. However, not everyone was glad about the news. Those who were not in favor refused the idea of having face-to-face classes back mainly because of the pandemic itself.

They believe that as long as the pandemic is not over, the students’ safety is not guaranteed. Another COVID-19 surge is highly possible once the students are exposed outside. For them, face-to-face classes during a pandemic are not necessary now that online learning exists.

But, as an educational institution that is a recognized leading center for quality education, particularly for the socially disadvantaged, we, Adamsonians, should not be against the reopening of schools that favors the unprivileged but rather be the bigger people and understand the situation of those who are being left behind.

The reopening of schools would not have been considered in the first place if the students were at risk and the schools were not ready. Strict guidelines and safety measures are applied to ensure the safety of the students.

It is easy to conclude that online learning is just as efficient only if you are privileged enough to own a device and internet connection that are the main foundation of an online class. Those who have a good environment at home, who can excel in an online set-up, and whose mental health is not affected must have survived the online set-up.

How about those who are the opposite? The unprivileged who cannot afford to learn online, those who are having a hard time in an online set-up, and those whose mental health has been affected due to isolation and less physical interaction must have struggled a lot and barely survived.

Online learning is not for everyone. Some struggle because of a lack of resources, some do not have a healthy environment at home and get distracted in an online class, and some are not mentally stable enough to study and learn alone. Face-to-face classes are not necessary only if online learning works for you.

Reopening the schools does not mean closing the doors to online learning but opening the doors for those who struggle in an online class to have the same opportunity to learn effectively in the middle of a pandemic.