[ANALYSIS] Don't confuse schooling with learning

Posted on May 26, 2020

By JUAN MIGUEL LUZ


News item: Deputy Speaker Aurelio 'Dong' Gonzales Jr. filed House Resolution 876 which seeks to postpone the reopening of classes in public and private schools until a vaccine against COVID-19 is developed and made available in the country. In support of this, a partylist congressman said, "The Department of Education (DepED) should just postpone the entire school year without any exception. Our policy should apply to all to avoid any confusion. We are unprepared for this crisis." Then, in the late night weekly report to the nation on the emergency Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the President said in a mix of English and Filipino: "It's useless to be talking about the opening of classes. Para sa akin, bakuna muna. Pag nandyan ang bakuna, okay na (For me, the vaccine first. If it's available, then it's OK [to open schools]). Remember that." Before our leaders take such drastic measures such as postponing the start of the basic education school year, let us put this coronavirus in proper perspective.