Academic Paper - Final Requiment

Republic of the Philippines BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY Pablo Borbon Main I, Batangas City COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Online Learning in Third World Countries: A Socio-Political Analysis Paper As Semester Project In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements in GED 106- Purposive Communication Second Semester, A.Y. 2020- 2021 Presented to Ms. DIVINE GRACE F. FEJER-FLORES Faculty College of Arts and Sciences Presented by Mercado, Jayrren Carl L. Talban, Dom Joshua J. BSPSY - 1203

Blindly Reaching: The Reality of Online Learning in Third World Countries With the rise of the Corona Virus Disease in December 2019, the lives of everyone were completely shifted. The norm that people were used to became just a mere remnant and remain of the past, we were then served with a new dish of reality: something that is alienated of the usual. All of the aspects of the reality were then affected by the sudden shift, may it be on the economic, social, political, and even education. As a matter of fact, according to an article by the World Economic Forum, it resulted in the shutting close of all physical schools in the world which resulted in over 1.2 Billion students worldwide partaking in the new mode of learning: the online learning method. But the sad reality is that not everyone is capable and privileged enough to be able to cope with the new way of learning, some are still left at the brink of helplessness especially students in third world countries. But looking at the two sides of online class definitely both have a fair share of positive and negative effects, according to an article by Priyanka Gautam published last October 2020, she scrutinized the two sides of online learning. She emphasized the advantages of how such learning techniques can be accessible, efficient, and affordable however since it is still dependent on digital means and the use of gadgets and the internet which some people cannot afford at all, it remains a large barricade between students and knowledge especially in the more economically and financially depressed regions of the world. Locally in the Philippines: a third-world country, online learning still remains and considered a privilege rather than a necessity and rights. This is proof that the country is not ready for such unforeseen catastrophe and change. And even if another method of learning is proposed such as modular distance learning there are still things that need to be done online, such as researches and the likes. Even if the Department of Education has pledged to give and donate gadgets to students, but how large is the portion that will actually receive it considering the dirty political reality in the country. It makes the burden of the poor even heavier and thus forced to stop partaking in such a method or even worse end their own lives due to frustration and pressure. A non-government youth group known as “Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK)” challenged the Department of Education upon their statement that online and distance learning is not linked to the inflating cases of suicides of students during the pandemic. The statement was made despite the monitored 20 cases of suicide that are related to online learning, one of the

strongest pillars of this reality is the testimony of Maria Jacobe Benig, mother of Ricki Benig: a 19-year-old student at Sto. Domingo National High School at Albay committed suicide. According to her mother, Ricki often vents out sentiments to her about how difficult and stressful online learning is and even thought of just dropping out of school. Mrs. Benig pointed out academic strain as the main reason why his son decided to let go and just end his misery. Such stories were not just fiction and made-up rather it is the reality faced by everyone especially the least fortunate. As the world transitioned to the new normal, not everyone was able to cope up, most are still left on the verge of hope and death. But who to blame for all these things, the ones that are crying for help but left unheard or those that are comfortably sitting on their seats of power spectating but not doing anything?

References: Armstrong, S. (2013, April 5). What are the advantages and disadvantages of online learning. eLearning Industry. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://elearningindustry.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-online-learning Ding Cervantes. (October 28, 2020). Group assails DepEd, cites 17 students suicide cases. The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/28/2052834/group-assails-deped-cites-17- student-suicide-cases Gautam, P. (2020, October 10). Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning. eLearning Industry. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://elearningindustry.com/advantages-and- disadvantages-online-learning Li, C., & Lalini, F. (202, April 29). The COVID-19 as changed education forever. This is why. World Economic Forum. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-education-global-covid19-online- digital-learning/ Malipot, M. (2020, October 21). Youth group slams on DepEd for 'washing its hands off' students' suicide. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/21/youth-groups-slam-deped-for-washing-its-hands-off- students-suicide/ Sibucao, C. D. (2020, September 19). Three students cmommit suicide, three months into online learning. UPLB Perspective. Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://uplbperspective.org/2020/09/19/three-students-commit-suicide-three-months-into- online-learning/