UCNHS: 2 Years In The Pandemic

School is the second home to many children, as it cultivates and molds the foundation of a student’s future. Yet as the COVID-19 Pandemic threatened the very existence of education, Urdaneta City National High School discontinued face-to-face classes, and started online and modular learning. Two years went by… did this type of learning continue what we started before the pandemic began? Or did all of us lose touch of reality and education? And most importantly, is it finally time for us to go back to “real” school?

In all honesty, and most students would agree, that we have not attained much knowledge like we did two years ago. On March 16th 2020, school life as we knew it, was over. Then started the modular and online learning approach proposed by DepEd. Many UCNHS students lacked information and guidance to even answer the given Q&As. With such hard subjects such as Mathematics, Science and MAPEH, students struggled with their studies. Perhaps it’s time to proceed with the limited face-to-face classes as we high school attendees endeavor to learn and finish our education.

According to the diagnostics, 20% of students suffered from mental illness due to the stress and immense pressure obtained from the new learning approaches suggested by schools. In UCNHS, there are approximately 4500 students and if we compute 20% of the school population, that would be 900 students who suffer from mental illness. It could be more or it could be less but we cannot deny the fact that almost all of us cannot stand the tribulations that the school has burdened us with. Most students lost motivation and some just gave up totally. During face-to-face, students are engaged in challenging and fun ways yet in these times, we have no teacher to guide us, no classmates to converse with and no trials that test our knowledge and abilities.

Even though the majority had issues in overcoming the new education approach, some felt at home and flourished as they answered their modules easily. These students had it easy as they have complete gadgets and free schedules. I do admit that doing schoolwork in the comfort of your home is relaxing, often head-clearing and supplies a peaceful mindset. That’s where the term “a peaceful environment is equal to a serene mindset” comes in. These students who enjoy this type of learning often find themselves on top of the quarterly ranking.

Though it is easier to agree that nothing ever enters our mind as we continue this type of learning. Some of us would rather go to sleep, eat, and dismiss our school works because we are at the comfort of our own house. As we slowly shift from modular/online learning to limited face-to-face, we will also now attain more knowledge than usual. Obtaining information virtually isn’t as effective as the traditional physical studying. Two years of mindlessly studying is enough.

To be frank, we should go back to our schools, with safety precautions of course, so that we can continue our usual and more effective ways of learning. In doing so, we can reassure ourselves that our education is heightened and bettered for the sake of our future. Let the limited face-to-face classes be our new normal once again.