June 8, 2021
By Pearl Julia Sibug
TAKE A BREAK. Students from different colleges and universities took Leave of Absence as online classes and distance learning emerged due to the pandemic. Infographic by Pearl Julia Sibug.
When COVID-19 hit the country, lockdown all over the Philippines was implemented by the government which has caused a lot of changes and hiatus on the country’s normal state.
One of the sectors greatly affected by the virus outbreak is the education sector, which decided to keep running through an online set-up and distance learning. Thus, the number of students considering taking a leave of absence (LOA) increased.
LJ Dioquito Salvador, a 2nd year International Studies student at Far Eastern University, said that online classes were okay at first but eventually, it made her lose interest and out of focus with her studies.
“Hirap ako sa face to face, what more sa online class and may responsibilities din ako dito sa bahay kaya di nako nakapagfocus sa school,” she said.
(I already find my course hard during face-to-face, what more in this online set-up. I also have responsibilities at home that is why I can’t focus on school.)
Thus, taking LOA was her decision after the second semester of her 1st year in college.
Augusto B. Urbano II, a 3rd year BS Information Technology student at AMA, also said that the pandemic greatly affected his way of studying mainly because of lack of internet connection that is why he chose to file LOA under online set-up.
Financial instability
When the government declared a lockdown and community quarantine in the country, the mobility of people has been lessened which equated to economic degradation due to establishments and businesses closing due to safety health protocols released by the government.
Even public transportation was limited and put to a halt at the start of the pandemic. Thus, lots of jobs and opportunities were taken away from people resulting in falling short on the financial capacity of each household.
Jo, not his real name, a supposed to be 3rd-year Criminology student at the University of the Cordilleras, took LOA after not being granted a scholarship under an online set-up because they are financially unstable.
Jalen Ross V. Hernandez, a 1st year BS Psychology student at President Ramon Magsaysay State University, stated the same reason for taking LOA.
“I took my leave because I had to find a job and help my father financially, because what he earns can't cover up all our needs,” Hernandez said.
Family’s decision
After the cancellation of classes by President Rodrigo Duterte last March 2020, students studying away from their hometowns immediately went home with the fear of getting locked down at their respective current locations (e.g. Manila, Baguio City).
Students who went home were left with no choice but to proceed with the remaining semester under online set-up last year inside the comfort of their own homes with their family.
Marya, not her real name, a supposed to be 2nd year BS Accountancy student at National University, shared how her family decided for her to take a leave of absence during the pandemic.
“Sa totoo lang po, desisyon po siya ng magulang at pinsan ko na huminto muna ako sa pag-aaral ngayong taon, dahil na rin siguro sa nakikita nilang sitwasyon ko sa mga panahong nag-oonline class pa ako,” she said.
(Honestly, filing for a leave of absence is the decision of my parents and cousin because they saw my situation during the times I took classes online.)
“Isa sa mga reasons bakit ako nagdesisyon na huminto sa pag-aaral ay dahil na rin sa wala akong gaanong maintindihan at maunawaan sa mga lesson na ibinibigay sa amin,” she added.
(One of the reasons why I decided to stop studying is because I barely understand the lessons given to us.)
Just like any other students under this online set-up, she also felt that they are just merely complying with all the requirements to pass the subject.
Unhealthy effects
Pushing through the online setup amidst the COVID-19 crisis has taken a toll on student’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
Mental health illness is the third most common issue of health even before this COVID-19 outbreak happened, and according to Philippine World Health Organization (WHO) Special Initiative for Mental Health in the early part of 2020, at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from a mental health disorder.
For most students, it was not easy to focus and really absorb the lessons taught during an online class.
“It affected me in a way that I’m not able to learn efficiently under online class, distractions are always present and because of that I’m unable to comprehend and analyze lectures of the professors or answer the given activities,” Jo said.
Apart from the effects on the learning process of students, this set-up has also negatively affected students’ mental health, which has been a big discourse among students and the education sector in the country at the start of the pandemic.
“It affected me mentally because I had to set my focus to a different field or environment,” Hernandez said.
“It gives me a hard time going back to work because I have to adjust and personally got a bit sad about it because I had to sacrifice my dream of becoming a psychologist,” he added.
Marya also shared how online learning affected her emotionally which gave her more reason to file for LOA.
“Naapektuhan ako emotionally, sa sobrang daming kailang gawin at intindihin, hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko at mararamdaman ko. Minsan dumadating sa punto na umiiyak na lang ako kasi hindi ko maintindihan at hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko,” she said.
(Due to lots of activities that needed to be done, I was affected emotionally to the point I don’t know what to do or what to feel anymore. Sometimes, I just cry out of nowhere because I can’t understand anything anymore and I don’t know what to do.)
Salvador shared the same sentiments as to how learning during the COVID-19 crisis affected her personally, emotionally, and mentally.
What are the alternatives?
Despite hitting pause on academics, some students who took LOA found their alternative way of spending their academic break productively.
Some students started working and establishing their small businesses after taking LOA because they think it would extract the productivity out of them and in return will help and assist them financially.
Jo is working part-time and invested in his small business, which is buying and selling clothes, likewise, Hernandez focused on his work.
“After ko magdecide na magLOA, ang ginawa ko magpahinga, tumulong sa gawaing bahay at tumulong sa negosyo ng mama ko,” Marya said.
(After deciding to take LOA, I took a rest, helped with the household chores and my mom’s business.)
She also decided to franchise an ice cream brand and sell cupcakes while helping her sibling with school activities.
Salvador practiced driving and took her time to spend with her family because she knows that when face to face classes resume, she will probably stay in Manila for a long time because she doesn’t want to risk her family’s health after being careful by staying home for more than a year.
Whereas Urbano dedicated his time at the St. Michael Parish in his hometown, serving as a sacristan.
To do or not to do
Taking a leave of absence is a student’s option when he/she does not plan to enroll in a semester or when a student is currently enrolled in a semester but wishes to withdraw his/her enrollment.
For some students, LOA has become their choice instead of suffering under online learning in this COVID-19 crisis everyone is facing, just like what these five students from different universities did.
For practicality’s sake, Jo would recommend it for students who are used to face-to-face classes, especially those under courses or programs that need application studies.
“For me, taking LOA was somewhat a wise and practical choice because online classes are not efficient, nor are they effective, especially that I'm in a higher year where application studies are being held. It's draining every brain cell I have.”
“The pressure for passing multiple activities in a single night is exhausting,” Jo added.
However, these students also proved that filing for LOA is not an easy decision to make, that it needs thorough decision making for it will cost you time and might prolong your years of studying.
“Ang magdesisyong magLOA ay napakahirap na desisyon. Madaming bagay na dapat ikonsidera at isipin bago ka makapagdesisyon talaga magLOA. Dito papasok ang mapag-iiwanan ka, hihinto ka sa pag-aaral dahil hindi mo kinaya kasi napagod ka,” Marya said.
(Deciding to take LOA is a hard decision to make. There are lots of things to consider before you can decide to file for LOA. Here comes the idea that you’ll be left behind and you’ll stop because you got tired and can’t continue your studies.)
Although taking LOA might be a practical and smart decision a student can make this pandemic, some students like Hernandez and Urbano would not recommend it for others.
“It depends on the situation and the person. Some may have enough to survive this pandemic, some may not. Some may be able to adapt with the new learning system, some can't. But if they can do multitasking, work while studying, I recommend doing that instead of taking a LOA. Time is too precious to waste, as much as possible, please don't let anything stop you from achieving your dreams,” Hernandez said.
Whereas, for Salvador and Marya, it’s a win-win solution for both of them to take LOA because they get the time to rest and take care of their physical, mental, and emotional health.
“Okay lang magtake ng break, hindi naman porque nagstop ka e dyan ka na lang, hihinga ka lang saglit pero babalik ka ulit,” Salvador said.
(It’s okay to take a break. It doesn’t mean you’re permanently stuck there just because you stopped for a while. You’ll just breathe and go back again.) SYNC IN
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