By Jose Paolo S. dela Cruz
While classes may have been suspended indefinitely due to COVID-19, Filipinos’ pursuit of quality education continues. As such, educators are still pushing the envelope in the name of learning — arming themselves with innovation, hard work and, most importantly, compassion, as they navigate the waters of the new normal.
Vanessa Tanco, the young president of iAcademy knows this from experience. As the head of an academic institution, Tanco has seen how the pandemic has affected, not just the academic calendar, but also the lives of their students and their parents. Ever since COVID-19 struck, the school’s administration has received numerous inquiries on how students may move forward with their education.
To help alleviate the financial situation of their students and their families, Tanco and iAcademy have decided to refund a total of P11 million in student fees. In line with this, the school is giving an eight percent credit on the total third trimester fees for college students; and a five percent credit on the total second semester fees for senior high school students.
“We understand the struggles of our students and empathize with their families as they face the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we have implemented these measures to help in our own little way,” says Tanco, adding that iAcademy will also defer the collection of tuition fees until June 1st this year.
‘Future-proofing’
As the new normal sets in, students and faculty members alike find themselves charting unfamiliar territories. Some of iAcademy’s students, for one, have expressed their difficulties in continuing classes via online methods. Some students have also been clamoring for mass promotion and suspension of online classes.
Through it all, Tanco and the iAcademy team train their eyes on one objective: future-proofing the institution. “We are an institution of game changers and we cannot let this most game-changing event lower our guard and standards. We must adjust and keep on going with the smallest compromise to the quality of graduates as [much as] possible,” says Tanco.
As such, certain innovations have been put in place. iAcademy, for instance, has moved to strengthen its online class curriculum; and more importantly, ensure that the students can effectively learn and adapt to the new system.
iAcademy has also partnered with Coursera, the world’s number one online learning platform, to help students learn job-relevant skills that may help them take their respective specializations to the next level. All senior high school and college students of iAcademy are eligible for this program at no additional cost. Interested applicants simply need to send an email that answers the question “What are five things you are most grateful for and why?,” along with their full name, year level and course/strand to osea@iacademy.edu.ph to be part of the free Coursera offering. Use the subject iACADEMYxCoursera application and send before May 13, 2020.
For those who have no means to avail themselves of online classes, the option to conduct face-to-face learning remains. Minimal physical contact classes shall be conducted, while face-to-face classes will be regulated to comply with proper physical distancing requirements. School equipment and facilities will also be regularly and thoroughly disinfected and cleaned.
While school officials understand the difficulties that may come with online learning, they still stand firmly against the idea of mass promotion. However, Tanco has assured students that no failing marks will be given. “Those who cannot pass requirements will be given an ‘incomplete’ mark and will be given one year to complete the course requirements,” she explains.
The school has also devised ways to support the students and give due leniency given the severity of the quarantine measures in place. iAcademy, for instance, offers part-time jobs to students who might need to earn extra income for their academic needs. Free online medical and counseling consultations are also currently being offered.
“Despite the challenges our objective remains the same. We would like our students to come out of the institution as well-trained and skilled individuals, who will make a difference as professionals and leaders in the future,” says Tanco.
Outside of the classroom
Beyond the borders of her school, Tanco has also made sure that iAcademy came out with its social distancing App called Maze. Developed in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Maze helps people avoid crowded areas by identifying which places have a high density of people. While the app is still on its early stages, iAcademy is working to further enhance it, so that it can be of use for more people under the new normal.
Sometimes, the best education may stem from adversity. The same can be said about iAcademy, which, now more than ever, remains true to its core of being a game changer. “We will not be defeated by the extraordinary situation brought about by the pandemic to iAcademy. Instead, we will continue to innovate and create new ways to adapt to the new normal,” concludes Tanco.
For more information, visit https://iacademy.edu.ph/index.php
