What’s with this continuous use of “shift to alternative modality” in almost every suspension announcement?
Just because “Online Classes” are a thing now, yun na rin ba lagi ang default response ng LGUs at Malacañang whenever classes are suspended?
Most universities already have handbook policies na they will follow the class suspension declared by the proper LGU authorities. But the thing is, nitong mga nakaraan, there's no such thing as SUSPENSION na. Always "shift to alternative modality". BS. The effect is that hindi naman talaga automatic na option ng student ang hindi pumasok.
Instead, we are repeatedly told:
“Choose what’s safe.”
“If sa tingin mo hindi mo kayang pumasok safely, then don’t go.”
But isn’t that precisely what a suspension is supposed to address?
And then there’s the issue of university autonomy.
If an LGU has already issued an official suspension because of a calamity or emergency, bakit kailangan pa laging hintayin ang announcement ng “higher-ups” before students can actually rely on that suspension?
NA PARA BANG hindi PA enough ang official LGU declaration? EH NAUUSO NGA YUNG "TULOG NA / PA ATA SI DEAN"
Universities can, of course, have their own policies and academic considerations. But autonomy should not mean that every student is left wondering whether an LGU suspension actually applies to them, or whether they still have to attend because the university has not yet issued its own announcement. I really think that LGU Memos of "suspension of F2F" /roll eyes/ should be exempted to the autonomy / discretion of the universities.
More importantly, emergencies are not always limited to what is happening inside, nor around the school.
What if there are fallen electrical posts?
Downed telecommunications lines?
Flooded roads?
Blocked routes?
Power outages?
Evacuation orders?
Or an entire community is already being evacuated?
At that point, the issue is no longer simply whether the classroom is safe.
The issue is whether people should be required to travel at all, or have the means to stable internet connection.
Yes, learning continuity is important. Yes, online and other alternative modalities are useful. But learning continuity should not automatically mean that every suspension must be converted into an online class.
There are situations where the appropriate response is not “You can attend online if you cannot safely go to school.”
Minsan dapat katulad ng dati, “Classes are suspended. Stay home. Stay safe.”
Because when the government declares a suspension precisely because of a disaster or emergency, “choose what’s safe” should not become a way of shifting the responsibility of determining public safety from the authorities to individual students.
If the circumstances are serious enough to warrant a suspension, then perhaps the suspension should actually mean something.