Senator Pia Cayetano warns fully online classes may widen learning gaps

Senator Pia Cayetano has urged caution regarding the shift to fully online classes, warning that the policy could worsen existing learning gaps if not properly managed.

This statement follows the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) decision to allow higher education institutions to adopt 100% online classes in response to the ongoing global fuel and power crisis.

While acknowledging the measure as a temporary solution for learning continuity and energy conservation, Cayetano emphasized the need for safeguards to protect student outcomes.

Drawing on her experience as an officer of the Senate Committee on Finance and former Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) Commissioner, she stressed that any shift in learning modality must ensure effective student learning.

“As Senior Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, where I handled the education budget for six years, and as a former EDCOM II Commissioner, I feel strongly that we must approach this challenge with great caution,” she said.

The senator warned that widespread reliance on online classes could widen disparities for students lacking technology, stable internet, or conducive home environments.

She also expressed concern that this temporary policy could become normalized, similar to emergency measures that persisted longer than intended during the pandemic.

“We must be vigilant to ensure that this does not happen again,” she said.

Cayetano underscored that face-to-face learning remains essential for academic outcomes, discipline, and student development.

She is calling on CHED and higher education institutions to establish clear benchmarks, including measurable indicators and a defined review timeline, to ensure this remains a strictly emergency measure.

-Paraluman News