Students shouldn't be given failing marks amid pandemic —Go, Zubiri

As many students inch toward their first school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at least two senators on Wednesday said that students should not be given failing grades.

During a Senate hearing on basic education, Senator Bong Go underscored that the learners' adjustments in the blended forms of learning should be given weight too.

"Habang hindi pa po normal sana wala na lang bumagsak para hindi na po ma-pressure ang mga estudyante," he said.

"In transitioning to online learning, dapat mabigyan ng pantay-pantay na oportunidad ang mga estudyante kahit saan mang parte sila ng bansa at kahit anumang estado nila sa buhay. Kung tayo nga dito sa Senado ay nahihirapan sa transition to online, paano pa kaya sila?"  he added.

Teachers must be given ample assistance and training too for distance learning, according to Go.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also agreed with Go's proposal to make some changes in the grading system to reduce the stress among the youth.

"It's an emergency situation. Para tayong nasa gyera pero ang kaaway natin COVID-19. During times of emergencies like this we have to give leeway to the children, sa ating mga kabataan, lalo na sa education sector," he said in a separate virtual interview.

"For the next six months, huwag muna nilang gawing pass or fail. Siguro pasado muna lahat until we can come up with a vaccination program or they can come back face-to-face and meet with their teachers again," he added.

The opening of classes in basic education is scheduled for August 24. Various delivery platforms including printed self-learning modules, internet, radio, and TV will be used in lieu of face-to-face classes.

Based on data from the Department of Education, more than 23 million students have enrolled this school year as of August 11. This is equivalent to 83.1% of the enrollment turnout last year.

Of these, more than 21 million enrolled in public schools, over 1.5 million in private schools, and more than 333,000 in the alternative learning system. -MDM, GMA News