Don’t Confuse Schooling With Learning: Rappler

Leaders in the Philippines consider postponing all public and private school classes until a Covid-19 vaccine is available. Experts warn that a vaccine may not be ready until next year, and perhaps never. Educators maintain that putting a pause on learning would create another crisis. “Children must continue learning and if not in traditional schooling, then in some other way,” writes Juan Miguel Luz for Rappler. “Every year of delay in learning can have a compounding effect on children falling further and further behind in learning.” Learning does not require daylong face-to-face encounters. Parents, teachers, students and entire communities must share responsibility and pursue creative approaches including online coursework, volunteer tutoring and internships, book and equipment trades, and more. Education should not end during the crisis and, instead, Luz urges political leaders and educators to shift resources and support new learning initiatives. The crisis, so disruptive to economies and routines, requires students of all ages to learn how to learn. Learning to learn and enjoying the process may be education’s ultimate goal. – YaleGlobal