Double trouble: COVID-infected students struggle to continue with academics

By Jovelyn Cullado

COVID-19 cases continue to soar in the country and included in these cases are students who did not manage to escape the claws of the disease.

Over a year after flexible learning was implemented, students still struggle with learning. But more than the lack of assistance, unhealthy workspace and worsening mental health conditions; getting infected with COVID-19 is probably the worst scenario a student would meet this academic season.

Last March, Jordan Vasquez, a second year student of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), tested positive with COVID-19. It was a dreadful experience for him, and it badly affected his physical and mental health. Aside from the overwhelming academic responsibilities and house duties, he also needed to take care of himself to assist his parents, who at that time, were infected, too.

“The only thing that was running through my mind was my family's safety from COVID-19. I was determined to get well and to make sure my family was safe,” he said.

A truckload of responsibilities

In a normal setting, Vasquez would be at his dorm in CLSU, reviewing for upcoming exams and tests or chatting with his roommates. But he is not. He is confined to his home where his academic and house duties are all lumped together that it is sometimes hard to know what he should do first.

By the time he knew he was infected by the virus, he found it difficult to perform his responsibilities both as a student and as a son. But he chose to focus on his family’s health and set aside his academic responsibilities by informing his professors about his condition.

"I messaged all of my professors directly on Facebook to ask permission to be excused for a while since I really couldn't focus on my academics because I was focused more on my family's health," he said.

Aside from house and academic duties, he also needed to take care of himself. Though he had mild symptoms of COVID-19, he experienced severe weight loss. He said that after being quarantined for 15 days, he had to eat more to gain weight since his body feels different.

"It was so hard to the point your body prefers to just lie dead as it is totally drained of energy. One of the worst experiences not only from my perspective, but also from my parents,” Vasquez said.

Sick but still in school

Meanwhile, Aliyah* also contracted the virus. Though she stayed at home, she had a fever a few days after the swab results of her parents turned out positive. She underwent a swab test and the result came out positive, making her the fourth in her family to contract COVID-19.

Like Vasquez, Aliyah, a second year student of BS Communications Technology Management at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), also informed her professors about her condition. She feared she would not be able to attend to her academics while recovering from COVID-19, so the best option seemed to be notifying her instructors right away.

“With 4 subjects and an NSTP, I messaged my profs and only 3/4 of them responded. 2 of them were thankful for being informed, then 1 prof said she will extend my deadlines for me,” Aliyah* said through chat.

During her isolation period, even though she informed her professors about the situation of her family, she still attended her synchronous classes, but she admitted that she needs to be cautious during learning.

“It's hard to study and focus on acads when you are positive,”she said.

For students like Aliyah and Vasquez, it is crucial to attend classes. Whether students like it or not they have to attend online classes and devote their time to academic requirements. Most times, the pressure of not keeping pace with others is so high that students push themselves to their breaking point.

Enter #LigtasNaBalikEskwela

Recently, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero De Vera announced that “flexible learning will be the norm”. It attracted criticism from the students as it reflected the lack of plan of the department to ensure safe resumption of classes in a face-to-face setting.

The National Union of Students Philippine (NUSP) responded to the remarks of De Vera by saying that he needs to listen to the students’ demands during this pandemic.

“It has been a month since lockdown, and frankly, the bursts of calls for academic breaks and academic ease are taking place as a reflection of how exhausting and unsustainable the current set-up in learning is,” said NUSP National President Jandeil Roperos.

Flexible learning is implemented for the safety of the students and teachers, but the case of Aliyah and Vasquez proves that mental and physical health is and will always be at risk in distance learning; and this will persist as long as there is no comprehensive plan for accessible and equitable education for students for the next school years.