Another School Year Has Ended Under the Pandemic

May 25.

Another school year has ended under the pandemic. Unlike in the last two school years though, this year, graduates are able to march up the stage and receive their diplomas and awards. At least, despite the difficulties in learning under the "new normal" enforced due to the pandemic, this batch of students can experience what it feels to receive their diplomas.

Greetings once again my dear read.cash family. I'm taking my mind off the staggering prices of BCH for a while, and enjoy the occasion. Today, is a special day for these kids.

Looking Back.

March 15, 2020.

It was the date of the first lockdown that was imposed by the President on Metro Manila because of the Corona Virus. However, our Governor and City Mayor imposed the same lockdown or what is now known as Community Quarantine. We don't have any reported cases yet in the province at the time.

Our classes then had to be cut down for maybe a couple weeks. We had no idea how long the quarantine will last. As a result, there was no graduation ceremony or whatsoever in that year. The students graduated with the ceremonies.

School was supposed to start every June. But in that year, the Department of Education wasn't able to come up with a solution for months. There was even talks about cancelling school that year. However, they came up with an idea of implementing the home-school education mixed with online learning. It was not a perfect solution, but there was no better alternative.

Virtual Commencement Ceremonies

In 2021, all the school implemented virtual commencement ceremonies. The school created a video of the ceremony, showing the picture of the learner in their toga, when their names are called. Then again, the kids did not come up to the stage to receive their awards and diploma.

First Face to Face Graduation Ceremonies Under the Pandemic.

Today, we held the first face to face graduation ceremenies after two years. To avoid gathering a large crowd, and to maintain minimum health safety protocol, the ceremenies for Grades 6, 10, and 12 were held on different times.

After Two Years of Difficulties

In the last two years, the face of education was never the same under the so-called new normal. Those were difficult times both for teachers and learners. With the unstable Internet services offered by the two telecom giants, online learning was not the best solution. The learning modules were not sufficient as well, especially to those kids who had no one to guide them.

While I can not say this for every learners, there were those who stood out. Those who have shown resilience and dedication to learn.

To The Graduates

You have overcome one of the greatest difficulties in your lifetime. I hope you have learned a lot of lessons in the last two years. Not just the lessons that you have learned from your teachers and school, but lessons that this pandemic have tried to teach every human being.

To the graduates of 2022, no matter what level of education you are in... Congratulations.