This Week in Media (August 22 to 26, 2022)

Old problems, rainy season welcome returning students

AFTER TWO years of a national school lockdown, schools opened with face to face classes on Monday, August 22. Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte quickly claimed it a “victory for education.” Without a doubt, students were overjoyed by their reunion with classmates, and so were parents relieved from teaching duties at home. But some journalists were quick to point out the problems that still hounded the basic education system. 

National and regional media covered the event with an abundance of reports, but they could not quite capture what it is like to open the system to the 28.7 million students enrolled this school year, surpassing the DepEd’s target of 28.6 million.

Broadcast media used visuals to depict the situation in different classrooms. Despite a storm’s hitting some regions, and pictures of flooded classrooms, teachers and students continued with their lessons. Rappler highlighted the climactic impact as Tropical Storm Florita delayed the opening of some schools in Luzon and in Cagayan province.  

More schools, including those in Metro Manila, cancelled classes on the second day as inclement weather persisted. News accounts showed photos and clips of children wading in flooded classrooms and school grounds, as some cancellation orders were issued late.

Parents shared with media how they had looked forward to face-to-face classes and their disappointment with DepEd’s distance learning modules. They had all been looking forward to the resumption of in-person learning.

Media also cited the mixed reactions of younger students. Marc Logan, known for his comical reports, featured in TV Patrol children anxious about separation from parents, crying when they had to let go, fidgeting in the classroom and refusing to socialize, even as others were more willing to enjoy the experience. 

Some reports noted the usual lack of resources, the shortage of classrooms and chairs, and how teachers had to work out the social distance measures against COVID given the limited space. Schools have also had to resort to two shifts for morning and afternoon classes.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer‘s August 22 article reported these inadequacies, pointing out that Duterte did not impose a limit on the size classes. Rappler‘s valuation of the first day of school noted that classrooms with sufficient space only for 40 students were packed with 50 and even 60. 

Transportation in the capital poses a challenge even without bad weather. Public transport operators and the LTFRB admitted in the reports of TV Patrol and 24 Oras that while more routes had been  reopened to accommodate students, the number of functional PUV units has decreased since these were compelled to halt operations due to the pandemic.  

But media in general quoted Secretary Duterte proclamation of “victory” without question. Speaking before Dinalupihan Elementary School which her spokesperson described as one of the schools with best practices, Duterte admitted that the pandemic and school room shortages can no longer be used as excuses to keep children from schools. Media followed her visiting a classroom and interacting with students.  

Writing for The Philippine Star, columnist Jarius Bondoc said Duterte’s victory declaration was “too soon,” as “her job of reversing the learning crisis has just begun.” Bondoc correctly mentioned that neighboring countries had opened classes as early as 2020. 

CMFR cheered Inquirer.net’s report for expanding on the huge problem confronting the nation – presenting the learning losses brought about by the prolonged closure of schools and the effects that exacerbate the losses. 

Citing data from the World Bank, the in-depth article revealed dismal learning levels in the country, as the Philippines has the highest rate of “learning poverty” among Asian countries. The report added that the loss of learning has been compounded by existing inequalities and inadequate funding dedicated to education. Inquirer.net went beyond the event, presenting the rates of decline in learning that will take more than the usual responses to address.

Duterte has much to do in addressing perennial issues in education, inheriting as well the problems of her father’s administration. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee held on August 25 a hearing into the outdated but overpriced laptops procured by DepEd during Rodrigo Duterte’s term. Journalists recorded the finger-pointing among officials involved in the case.

Media must understand that education coverage is not limited to a one-day event; the sheer size of the agency’s bureaucracy alone calls for more analysis and more investigation. 

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Chaos in educational aid

News on Saturday, August 20 featured thousands of people besieging the central and satellite offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the distribution of funds to assist indigent students. Secretary Erwin Tulfo announced the availability on August 18 in a briefing in the Palace, even allowing “walk-ins.” Media reported the resulting chaos with scant reference to the DSWD’s experience during the pandemic when people stood in line for hours, but at the end of the day failed to receive the promised “ayuda.”

Tulfo quickly apologized for the disorganized event, maintaining that priority was given to those who registered online and that there was no guarantee everyone would get aid. Tulfo later said DSWD would conduct the distribution in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government. 

Media followed the developments without much critique (See: “The media and the DSWD dole-out mess“) relying for the most part on Tulfo’s statements and apologies. Journalists did not recall how many policies of the previous administration were similarly well-intentioned but poorly implemented, and that the experience should have been enough for government to correct their procedures. 

Unfortunately, some media’s recording what officials said suggested that government is stuck in its ways and in the cycle of incompetence.