1. POLITICAL FACTOR
A. Student
As a student, we are greatly affected by the laws and guidelines that are passed by the government and other institutions. For students like me who are lucky that we had the chance to go home before the lockdown had been imposed in our province, we are still unlucky because we are left with no choice but to stay inside our houses.
With this situation, students who are facing emotional challenges and family problems have nowhere to go to but just to stuck themselves inside their rooms. This is just an addition to the problem that it is hard to study at home when there is no conducive area to finish the given requirements by our professors.
However, the situation of the students who were too unlucky to go home and are stuck in their dormitories are even more challenging. They have to budget their money to buy their necessities. They have to juggle stress from being away from their loved ones, deal with overthinking, and the pressure they have on their chests as they have requirements to finish.
Thus, this COVID-19 pandemic and the laws and guidelines passed to combat it are Threats to the welfare of students.
B. Educational Institution
The main goal of educational institutions is to deliver quality education to their students. But how are they going to achieve this mission with the current situation? Some universities, colleges, and schools have closed the academic year earlier than expected. However, there are still some universities who are conducting their classes online because face-to-face teaching is highly prohibited.
With the laws and guidelines passed by the government, educational institutions can take this challenge as an opportunity to show that whatever challenge there maybe, seen or unseen, they can still deliver quality education by maximizing the use of Technology.
2. ECONOMIC FACTOR
A. The Students
The students who are having their online classes are also affected economically. Students who are depending on their parents have to ask them money to buy load that they will use to download modules, finish and submit requirements, and take long exams and quizzes. Privileged students won’t have to take it as a problem, because they have all the means to do it.
But life is not fair that there are students who have no access to the internet, and are only depending on their slow data connection. Instead of using the money to buy rice or food and other necessities, they will have to use that money for their online classes. Students who are also living independently, trying to juggle work and school, are suffering. They already lose their source of income, but they still have to think about the challenges coming from this pandemic.
3. SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTOR
A. Student
With the inevitable effect of COVID-19, the New Normal, students are left with no choice but to take it as an opportunity to improve themselves. Now that Social or Physical distancing and staying at home is imposed, students have to take their classes at home. While it is more fun to be at school and mingle with friends and classmates, it is better to be safe than regret. Now is the time for students to be mentally and physically healthy.
4. TECHNOLOGICAL FACTOR
A. Students
With the advancement of Technology, online or virtual learning is possible. Thus, students have to take this trend as an opportunity to continue learning. This is the time to widen their thinking ability, have creative minds, and to be resourceful.
Now that face-to-face learning is prohibited because of the pandemic, students are now challenged to learn with and by themselves. It is an opportunity for them to know more. Learning shouldn’t be limited to the four corners of the classroom.
However, this mode of learning can also be a Threat to underprivileged students. It is undeniable that there are students who don’t have access to an internet connection. Some might also have no laptops, gadgets, or cellphone to access information online. And some don’t have a budget for online learning- the buying of cellphone loads for a mobile data connection.
B. The Education System
Online or Virtual learning is the only way for educational institutions to continue delivering their mission on quality education. However, if a portion of the student body cannot access this mode of education, then it is a Threat to the education system.
If online or virtual learning continues, it will not be as effective as classroom learning, leaving exclusion to underprivileged students. But if online learning continues, educational institutions should first make sure there will be no student being left behind in the new education system.
5. DEMOGRAPHIC FACTOR
A. Students
Underprivileged students are the ones affected the most during this pandemic. Even if they are just a small portion of the student body, they matter and deserve to be heard. But this can be an opportunity for improvement. I have seen privileged students working hand in hand to help the underprivileged students to have access to online education. This is a good cause for them. This pandemic brought out the best from students- lending a hand to their co-students and making sure that there is no student left behind.
B. Educational Institutions
Most of the Educational institutions pushed through the online/visual learning thinking that all the students can afford and keep up with this mode of education. MMSU, being one of the universities to impose Online Education, can see an opportunity out of it. When all these educational institutions reach out to their students, help them get access to it, listen to their voices, concerns, and suggestions, it will be a win-win situation for both the student and the educational institutions.
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