STUDENTS today gathered in front of the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City to press their call for an academic strike against the alleged negligence of the government in disaster response and handling of the Covid19 pandemic.

Clad in black, members of various groups carried placards as they demanded accountability from President Duterte’s administration.

The students called for a national academic break, claiming that learners are still struggling to comply with their online classes amid the pandemic and the recent typhoons.

Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago supported the protest action, saying the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education should heed the call of students because thousands of them were affected by the recent typhoons.

“We demand a national academic break to assess the current education situation, review faculty and student workload, implement a ‘no fail’ policy, and provide aid to those in need of food, shelter, and other necessities! It’s also important to move deadlines,” Elago stressed.

She said an academic break is needed because of the damage wrought by the typhoons on internet infrastructure and other equipment needed for distance learning.

Earlier, hundreds of ADMU students called for a strike by withholding the submission of academic requirements “until the national government heeds the people’s demands for proper calamity aid and pandemic response.”