The hashtag LigtasNaBalikEskwela trended on Twitter Monday night, April 5, as students seek for academic ease amid the rising cases in the country and the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring provinces.
Asynchronous and synchronous classes nationwide were suspended during the Holy Week. However, with the extension of the ECQ in NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal until April 11, students are urging school administrations to extend academic break or implement academic ease for at least a week.
Youth group College Editors of the Philippines (CEGP) took to social media to urge the national government to ensure gradual and safe resumption of classes.
A P10,000 aid, free, safe, and effective vaccines for all were among the calls of the CEGP.
"Ligtas na edukasyon, hindi militarisasyon! (Safe education, not militarization)! Prioritize free and safe mass vaccination to students, teachers, and staff! Ensure gradual resumption of face-to-face classes! Academic Ease Now!" the group said.
READ MORE: Students clamor for longer academic break amid rising COVID-19 cases, ECQ extension
Citing difficulties learning under distance learning, students also voiced their concerns online.
"How do you expect students to effectively learn when many things are happening? Hindi porket nasa bahay lang kami, easy easy na lang (Not because we are just at home, we have it easy). Give the students the break they deserve," one netizen tweeted.
"The pandemic has resulted in increased anxiety depression among college students. The government's lack of concrete measures and the state of the country's economy made things worse! Univs can't expect students to function normally!" another one wrote.
As of writing, #LigstasNaBalikEskwela has reached over 3,000 tweets.