Weak and ineffective, that is the state of our school system even before, and now more than ever during this pandemic.

It has only been less than a week since the start of the nationwide opening of classes on most public schools on different levels. Nonetheless, during this short amount of time, many problems and concerns from both the students and teachers have emerged.

Every student across all social media platforms, as well as respected and known media entities and personalities alike, had expressed their frustrations regarding the ineffectiveness of the online classes and modules in conducting learning. This ineffectiveness consists of both partial and minor errors up to severe and major incidents.

Starting with several posts complaining about the modules blunders and flaws in its content and presentation. The modules either have inaccurate information and or improper wordings and since most of the printed modules are in black and white, matching exercises and determination of colors which are mostly taught to children are impossible to be done. The distribution of these modules has also exposed teachers to high risks of acquiring the virus. The workload of the students is inadequately planned, as the learning materials are just provided to them without any physical guidance of the teachers about its content. This has brought another set of problems such as cases of parents answering the modules themselves for their children. Which does not only hinder the learning and development of the children but also encourages cheating and inaction to them.

Suicides among students because of online and modular learning have also surfaced. With a single case of it happening to a student nicknamed “Makoy” that committed suicide because his teacher didn’t accept his module for being late, internet problems, limited connectivity, and access to technology has also been considered as main reasons. Another case is from a 21-year-old student mainly due to struggles in financial situation, and pressure in online class participation.

Financial struggles continue to hinder progress and education for the poor amid the pandemic, such is the case of a viral girl from Caloocan that sells face shields while participating in her class, a fast-food worker and a rider of a food delivery company that both still managed to work jobs and juggle it with their commitments in online studying. These actions however heroic they may seem should not be simply romanticized and justified as the welfare of the students should be given priority.

This band-aid response in terms of education raises more problems than solutions. Further medications and call for actions will help our way back to our normal situation.