25/07/2025
[EDITORIAL] ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ
As the Philippines faces a series of typhoons bringing heavy rains, floods, and landslides, many families are left struggling to stay safe. And yet, amidst the crisis, some schools continue to push through with online classes and the distribution of activitiesโas if everything is normal.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), thousands of families have been affected by recent typhoons. In many areas, electricity and internet connectivity have been unstable for days; some were entirely cut off. For students who have lost their homes, completing schoolwork is the least of their worries.
This brings up a serious question: does the education system really know what is happening ? Or has it forgotten to go down from the ivory towerโto step down from privilege and understand the harsh reality that students and their families are enduring?
Education is important, yes. But it should never come at the cost of oneโs mental health or safety. Not everyone has internet access. Not every home has electricity. And certainly, not every learner is in the right state of mind to study when they are fearful of the current situation they are experiencing.
This is not a matter of blaming anyone. Instead, it is a call for awareness. Education must be inclusive, understanding, and humaneโespecially in times of crisis. Deadlines should not be more important than disaster recovery.
In these trying times, may we choose empathy over expectations. We must remember: students are not just learners. They are sons, daughters, siblingsโsome are breadwinners who are doing their best to survive the crisis.
Let us build an education system that listens, adjusts, and most importantly, goes down from the ivory tower when the people below are drowning in apparent troubles and anxieties.
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Lead Writer:
Aya Arocha
Illustration:
Prince Sualog