RAVELA JOSEPH R.

12 MACHIAVELLI

THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC THROUGH THE LENS OF EDUCATION IN THE

PHILIPPINES:THE NEW NORMAL

INTRODUCTION:

One of the most recent public health emergencies of global concern is the recent COVID-19
pandemic, which started in China and almost infected every country in the whole world. This disease is
caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, previously known as 2019-nCoV) and has received global
attention from growing infections and on how to eradicate the disease and flatten the curve of
infections (Guo et al., 2020). Symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath which can be
transferred through close contact with an infected person by coughing, sneezing, respiratory
droplets or aerosols (Shereen et al., 2020). Though it affects people of all ages, it is most vulnerable to
adults, children and people with underlying medical conditions (WHO, 2020b). As of this time, the
number of infections and deaths is still increasing worldwide. In order to avoid the infection,
containment, mitigation, contact tracing, self-isolation, social distancing, wearing of face masks,
improved health care systems, hand-washing and surface cleaning is recommended by the World
Health Organization (WHO, 2020b). The fight against the threats to COVID-19 pandemic suffered
profound effects and impacts on almost all sectors in the human race. These have resulted in the
widespread disruption such as travel restrictions (Chinazzi et al., 2020), closure of schools (Viner
et al., 2020), global economic recession (Fernandes, 2020), political conflicts (Barrios & Hochberg,
2020), racism (Habibi et al., 2020), and misinformation and controversies (Enitan et al., 2020), to
name a few. One of the most affected is the educational sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic is still
existent today, and there are no specific vaccines or medicines to eradicate this disease. We need to
live to the new normal; if not contained, we need to live with the disease as viruses are constantly
evolving (Denworth, 2020). However, scientists are still on their way in studying and developing
vaccines and presently in clinical trials (Cortegiani et al., 2020; Dong et al., 2020; Gautret et al., 2020).
For almost two pandemic months, most countries around the world have temporarily closed
educational institutions to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce infections
(UNESCO, 2020). This closure has affected more than 1.2 billion learners worldwide with more than 28
million learners in the Philippines (UNESCO, 2020). Responses like community lockdown and
community quarantine of several countries have led students and teachers to study and work from
home which led to the delivery of online learning platforms (Crawford et al., 2020). However, the
implementation of online learning posed different risks, problems and challenges to both the
teachers and students, especially in the higher education institutions (HEIs) (Bao, 2020). In the
Philippines, there are 10,794 cases as of May 11, 2020 and is still increasing (DOH, 2020) with more
than four million cases worldwide (Worldometer, 2020). In response to these situations,
educational leaders decided to adopt the new normal in education. At the basic education, the
Department of Education (DepEd) will be implementing the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP), which
will be in effect School Year 2020-2021 and classes will open on August 24, 2020 instead of June 2020
(DepEd, 2020). In the higher education sector, the Commission on Higher Education, HEIs were given
academic freedom and should implement available distance learning, e-learning, and other alternative
modes of delivery to students (CHED, 2020). Several universities have opted to implement their
own policies regarding OPEN ACCESS instruction and opening of classes starting August 2020. It will be
the new normal in education and strengthening educational planning and health is a concern to provide
quality, inclusive and accessible education for every student. Hence, this review paper has been
developed in order to provide a clear lens of the new normal in education.

CONCLUSION:

The education sector is one of the highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Philippines,
where there are still a growing COVID-19 infections as of now, this study presented some of the new
normal situation in the school setting. However, there were some posed challenges and issues
presented while recommending several approaches on the new normal. Schools at all levels,
therefore, need to address these concerns and carefully evaluate plans and procedures on the
implementation of the new normal. Collaboration is the most important at these difficult times.
We should help form the post COVID-19 education, stepping to the new normal. The author,
therefore recommends that the opportunity and challenges presented should be grasped and taken a
serious concern. The challenge herewith is on how to provide and deliver quality education amidst
exceptional times, like the COVID-19 pandemic, and on what extent are we going to become prepared
when another crisis comes in the future. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The author would like to thank Dr.
Minerva I. Morales, President of Catanduanes State University and professor in graduate studies for her
support and encouragement in writing the review article.

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