A STUDENT organization in Saint Louis University (SLU) has called out the school’s implementation of e–learning methods saying it is ineffective and inconsiderate to students.
Cielo Esmeria, spokesperson of Saint Louis University - Democratic Alliance of Students for Integrated Governance (Dasig), said the opposition to the E-Learning module of the university is because of the lack of internet connection of a majority of students.
“In sum, e-learning is ineffective, inconsiderate, and inaccessible,” Esmira added an open letter to the SLU administration was sent without replies from authorities but with a resounding online response which went viral and collected 1,400 signatures from students and backed by 19 SLU organizations.
SLU has scrapped online classes which were initially implemented on the onset to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and shifted to an E-Learning module instead.
“The simple reason that not everyone has access to the internet, and the school did not provide such services to its students. The continuing e-learning will put the students in an unequal footing. Yung mga walang net, mapipilitan maghintay hanggang resumption of classes bago magawa yung requirements. Meanwhile, yung mga students na mas privileged, tapos na nila. It would be highly unfair para sa mga less privileged,” Esmira said.
Esmira added most students have gone home to their provinces where connections are weak and most of learning materials were left in the city as all rushed home when the Luzonwide ECQ was announced.
“In addition to the reasons why we oppose e-learning in the middle of a pandemic, we find it inconsiderate because of public anxiety. Many students have reported a deterioration in their mental health dahil nga sa circumstances ngayon. Some students even have relatives who are frontliners. Some students live in areas with rising numbers of COVID positive patients. Given this public anxiety, it’s outright inconsiderate to expect students to learn as if everything is normal,” Esmira added.
The student leader said e-learning platforms also compromise quality of education.
“The reasons why we oppose e-learning ay dahil it compromises quality education. Giving out modules and activities will never be at par sa quality ng learning na mapo-provide ng face-to-face lectures. Some students even reported na hindi effective sa kanila ang self-study. Some courses also require fieldwork and laboratories na hindi mo magagawa through e-learning. So, basically, pushing for e-learning will be counterproductive,” Esmira said.
SLU–Dasig suggests a semester extension where the school will adjust the academic calendar and resume classes where students left off before the ECQ.
“Students we talked to are leaning on mass promotion, just like what ADMU did. Bale pasado na ang mga estudyante because that will be the most humane thing to do. To make up for the skipped lessons, bridging programs should be offered na pwede naman sa midyear or sa 1st sem. These bridging programs will be purely lecture and not graded. So far, yan yung mga nakikita ng students na solution. Either way kung ano mang solution, isa yung malinaw na demand ng students which is suspend e-learning,” Esmira said.