Education is ever-evolving. And with today’s economic and developmental climate, it has become more important to continue striving towards quality education that is fair and accessible to everybody. In line with that vision, the Univesity of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) launched its 6th National Conference on Open and Distance eLearning (NCODeL 2019) with the theme “Quality in Equity. Equity in Quality” in Baguio City at the Holiday Inn. The event is in partnership with the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB), Benguet State University (BSU), and Ifugao State University (IFSU). It will last from November 26 to 28.
NCODeL 2019 brought together experts, scholars, and practitioners in a forum to discuss more inclusive quality education opportunities. In the center of it is open and distance learning (ODeL), a method of education that allows students to learn and earn degrees at their own pace from the comfort of their own homes. On its three day run, NCODeL 2019 will focus on how equity can be incorporated in ODeL and how it can be made more accessible to students.
With distance learning, students usually receive school work and lessons online and are guided through it by the virtual assistance of an instructor. Now, with venues like the NCODel 2019, distance learning is being nudged to become part of the mainstream educational channel. And little by little, it is being fitted to overcome more challenges and barriers to education in the Philippines.
NCODeL 2019: The Challenges of Distance Learning in the Philippines
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, distance learning has become a game-changer to education in the Philippines. It provides avenues for working professionals to further advance their studies and it also provides more opportunities for students who couldn’t go to universities. However, like all steps towards development, distance learning also faces its own set of challenges.
In a panel at the NCODeL 2019, the heads of UPOU, UPB, BSU, and IFSU agreed that one of the biggest challenges they’re facing is the internet situation in the country. Without a good and stable internet connection, education through distance learning would still be difficult for many especially in the far-flung areas of the country.
As Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon, the president of IFSU said, their distance learning system in IFSU still isn’t 100% online. They conduct online learning 70% of the time and do the rest face to face. In addition to that, different alternatives are also available to continue providing distance learning. As Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria, the Chancellor of the UPOU said, they upload their modules online for ready download. They also allow sending the modules through the mail.
Besides the internet situation, distance learning is also currently facing a few other challenges. One of them is how the universities can support their students and help them finish their online studies given that the students are studying alone and have minimal constricts to them. The other is how to remove the perception that online learning is second-rate learning.
The Future of Distance Learning
With its current constricts, distance learning still has a long way to go in the Philippines. But, it is a steady working process. Among the many things to look forward to in the future of distance learning is an improvement in the digital systems of the open universities. As Dr. Feliciano Calora Jr., president of BSU explained, universities like BSU and IFSU are looking to improve on the more technical aspects of online learning to be able to expand their course offerings.
Speaking of course offerings, another thing to look forward to in the near future of distance learning is the opening of new courses that cater to 21st-century industries. As both Dr. Raymundo Rovillos, Chancellor of UPB, and Dr. Bandalaria explained, 21st-century skills like digital literacy are ingrained in a lot of their courses. However, they may soon open up courses that solely cater to these to be able to open up students to the prospects of current emerging and leading industries.
Currently, the UPOU offers distance learning programs for doctoral and master’s programs in fields such as communication, language and literacy education, nursing, social work, and more. Then, they also have undergraduate programs for arts, arts in multimedia studies, and education studies. They also offer Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Continuing Education Programs.
On the other hand, both BSU and IFSU only offer graduate programs for distance learning as of now. BSU has master’s programs for urban management, community development, non-formal education (ALS), development communication, and others. Meanwhile, IFSU offers doctorate programs for educational management, management, and business management. They also offer master’s programs for education, teaching, business administration, and more.
Distance learning is now helping change the educational landscape of the country. But, there can be more ways to offer education with equity and quality. With more research, perseverance, and determination, there will come more ways to finally conquer the barriers of education that we all face.