One of the intervention measures of the Philippine government in fighting against the coronavirus outbreak is suspension of classes. This was enforced after the WHO pandemic declaration on March 12. To ensure continuity of learning, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) encouraged distance learning or any alternative modes of learning as deemed applicable and necessary.

At the outset of Luzon enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the University of the Philippines immediately announced a moratorium on all online classes, including the submission of all given course requirements. As of April 14, online classes remain suspended following the government announcement on the extension of ECQ until the end of the month.

In the midst of uncertainties, the President’s Advisory Council (PAC) of the University of the Philippines deliberated over eligible recommendations on how to proceed with the rest of the school year (2019-2020). The PAC has now released the recommendations to the Board of Regents (BOR) who holds the final decision.

Who comprises the PAC and BOR?

Knowing the representation in both is relevant and particularly important.

Members of the PAC include the following:

High-ranking officers of the University Administration (President, Executive Vice-President, VP for Academic Affairs, etc.)

System-wide Chancellors (representing each constituent university)

Is there any direct representation from the studentry? Nil.

The composition of the BOR is as follows:

Chairperson of CHED

UP President

Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher and Technical and Vocational Education

Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education

Alumni Regent

Two UP alumni as nominated by the PH President

Secretary of the University and of the BOR

Faculty Regent

Staff Regent

Student Regent

There is precisely a multi-sectoral representation in the BOR yet investing our trust in the board’s consideration of students’ demands is a leap of faith. The Student Regent can only do so much as the representative of the entire studentry. Can we say that the recommendations from the PAC are already final? And the approval of the BOR is only an act of formality? Perhaps but not certainly. Getting a representation in the BOR is just as important as having a seat in the PAC where initial deliberation occurs. Having your voice heard once is favorable, but being heard twice increases the probability of being heard at all.

Where the clamor comes from

Recommendations from the PAC can be read below.

Source: Philippine Collegian/@phkule/Twitter

The Rise for Education Alliance – UP Diliman presented a summation of the recommendations as follows:

1. The University shall end the Second Semester on 30 April 2020 to reduce the growing anxiety of students and faculty on one hand, and enable their COVID-related engagements, on the other hand, a. Since there is no sufficient basis for assessing students, they will be given a “Deferred Grade”. None of the students will fail the course provided they meet the requirements. b. Students have up to 31 May 2021 to complete the course requirements. Should they be unable to do so, students have the option to drop and re-enroll the course in the succeeding semester. The grading scheme for the classes taken in the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 is as follows: Pass [Optionally, the faculty may indicate the adjectival equivalent of the numerical grade in the Remarks column of the grading sheet, i.e., Excellent (1.0-1.25), Very Good (1.5-1.75), Good (2.0-2.25).] DRP (Dropped) c. A student who enrolled in a course in the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 that is a prerequisite to another, shall be allowed to enroll in the latter course for credit, despite having a ‘Deferred Grade” for the prerequisite course. The department/institute/unit shall offer bridging programs to enable the student to catch up with the course in the First Semester 2020-2021. d. For Second Semester AY 2019-2020 classes for which the faculty is adjusting further the requirements of the course, the faculty concerned and or the department/institute/unit will reach to the students in the class for the requirements and means to meet them; e. Adjusted requirements for the completion of the course must have been communicated to students by 1 May 2020. 2. While UP is ending the semester for all students, graduating students as well as those meeting personal timetables—e.g., students who need to graduate in a succeeding semester to begin earning for their families, those applying for graduate admissions, those on scholarships, etc. may opt to complete the requirements of the semester following the adjusted syllabus and the deadlines set by his or her Constituent University. 3. The University is also waiving academic rules as well as policies on scholastic standing and student financial assistance. DROPPING OF SUBJECTS The deadline for dropping of subjects for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 is lifted. LEAVE OF ABSENCE The deadline for filing of Leave of Absence for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 is lifted. MAXIMUM RESIDENCE Residence for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 shall not be included in the reckoning or in the counting of years of residence of a student. PREREQUISITES TO COURSES As stated above REMOVAL OF INC A student who incurred an INC during the Second Semester AY 2018-2019 shall be allowed to remove the INC until First Semester AY 2020-2021. REMOVAL OF 4.0 A student who incurred a 4.0 during the Second Semester AY 2018-2019 shall be allowed to remove the 4.0 until First Semester AY 2020-2021. RULES ON SCHOLASTIC STANDING The following rules on scholastic standing (delinquency) are suspended for the Second Semester AY 2019-2020:

a. Warning

b. Probation

c. Dismissal

d. Permanent Disqualification STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Policies on student financial assistance which are tied to scholastic standing are suspended. 4. The University shall endeavor to adopt alternative modes of instruction, requirements and assessment methods that are consistent with its mandate as the National University committed to honor and excellence and that equally take the extreme conditions confronting our students and faculty into account.

Looks reasonable, doesn’t it? The one-year leeway to comply with the requirements is already a generous allotment.

However, the recommendations are short-sighted and ignorant of students’ varying dispositions. Two factors must be considered in the long-term: student’s resources and health.

Even if the ECQ is lifted in a month’s time and everything is back to normal, 1) the uncertainty of being infected with the virus (because we cannot eradicate it in a year’s time nor will a vaccine be available) adds up to the 2) anxiety from the financial crisis resulting from 3) un(der)employment of parents or guardians or of oneself (i.e. self-funded students and students who bring food to the table).

Given the three conditions above, clauses 1a and 1b of the PAC’s recommendations are immeasurably undoable and will eventually backfire in the long run. College students will be the ones to suffer massively. Faced with the demands of the new semester, they need to buckle down as they will have to accommodate the pending requirements of the previous courses. The PAC only burdens the students with additional academic workload. Apart from distress and fatigue, this arrangement will undoubtedly disturb one’s mental health for being overextended, having to comply with more or less 9 courses (or subjects, if you may) per semester, not to mention all the non-academic hats they have to wear.

In their attempt to uphold honor and excellence, the UP Administration unwittingly exposes an unreasonable degree of scholasticism that prioritizes quantifiable results to the detriment of the common good.

The demand for mass promotion (Pass instead of the proposed Deferred) is not an abuse of academic freedom but rather a means to protect it, in hopes of receiving quality education when it is conducive to do so.

May the BOR turn the tide and decide with their hearts.

Featured image is from Ronin Bautista/GMA News