The activist group (Amihan) blames the government for the suicide of a 19-year-old from the City of Albay, Philippines.
Activist group slams government’s blended learning program
The National Federation of Peasant Women (Amihan), an activist group in the Philippines representing peasant women in the country, slams the government for the suicide of a 19-year-old from the City of Albay, Philippines.
Zenaida Soriano, the spokesperson for Amihan, blames the Department of Education’s blending learning program which caused anxiety on the kid that committed suicide recently in Albay.
The President is in full support of the blended learning program that DepEd has come up with. The blended learning program is the best possible solution the department has in mind in order to continue learning despite the existence of COVID-19.
On the other hand, different activist groups in the Philippines oppose this notion, due to the lack of resources in terms of internet access and gadgets for those who belong to low-income families.
To address this concern, the DepEd has also tapped into television and radio stations to broadcast classes for areas with no internet access.
Efforts are not enough
According to Soriano, the blended learning program proposal by the DepEd is a huge lash against poor families. For low-income families who struggle to even provide for their daily meals will now have an additional burden in finding a way to access gadgets, television, or even radios, just to keep up in class.
For Soriano, the blended learning program is not fit for poor families, especially during this pandemic.
DepEd admits that the new normal might not accommodate all students from different walks of life. The blended learning program is new to the country and loopholes are expected. This is not a 100% fail-proof program, but the department must assure that learning in the country is continuous.
Issues along the implementation of the program will be addressed accordingly. Postponing access to learning for all students is more detrimental to our country’s progress.
On May 19, the Commission on Higher Education calls on a student activist group to stop using the death of a criminology student for personal political agendas.
