Academic freeze opposed by DepEd and private schools

On Friday, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) said that they are against an academic freeze this school year despite the continuing increase of infection because of coronavirus.

Photo credit: mb.com.ph

In an interview, Education Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and Project Management Service Tonisito Umali said that more than 24 million students have enrolled for the upcoming academic year which will start on October 5.

Department of Education is doing all the necessary adjustments as the country transitions to blended learning. Umali said,

Posibleng naninibago pa ang karamihan… kung kaagad na academic freeze ang gagawin natin eh baka mabigat naman po ito masyado, 

[It is possible that most are still coping with the changes, if we will implement an academic freeze, consequences might be too heavy to bear,]

On the other hand, an academic freeze will result in learning loss for the students said COCOPEA managing director Joseph Noel Estrada. He said,

February pa or March pa ‘yong iba nahinto na ‘yong pag-aaral nila last school year at napakahabang panahon na ang lumipas bago nakabalik ang mga estudyante… Kung sa ordinary times ang isang estudyante nakapag-absent ng isang araw lang, katakot-takot na paghahabol ang kinakailangang gawin para ma-meet ang learning competencies, 

[It was February or March when some (students) already stopped studying for the last school year and it was a very long time before they have returned… Normally, if a student is absent for just one day, (he/she) is required to do a lot of things just to meet the learning competencies needed,]

From March up to now, students have only 70% learning gains left from last school year in the reading subject, and 50% in mathematics and other subjects, Estrada said.

He added the students almost lost about a year of learning, it only shows that there is a need for students to cope up and it wouldn't be solved if there would be an academic freeze. It will only further delay the students supposed learned competencies. 

Moreover, Estrada said they are against the idea especially since there are students who are still eager to learn despite the circumstances brought by the pandemic. They're the ones that need our help, instead of calling to just drop it.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Leonor Briones also renewed the department’s vow to give psychosocial support to teachers and school personnel amid the pandemic.