Poor internet connection burdens distance learners

THE latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey said a measly 39 percent of Filipino families with members studying via online distance learning have “strong” internet connection.

The nationwide poll was conducted from November 21 to 25 among 1,500 respondents, aged five to 20.

Of the 39 percent, the SWS survey said 26 percent related that their internet connection was “somewhat strong” while 14 percent said it was “very strong.”

Forty-six percent of the respondents who said they had strong internet connection were from Balance Luzon (outside Mega Manila), followed by Metro Manila with 36 percent, the Visayas with 38 percent and Mindanao with 30 percent.

The SWS survey also revealed that 86 percent of families with members studying through distance learning spent an average of P901 per month on internet service providers.

In November 2020, an SWS survey said an estimated 4.3 million or 14 percent of enrolled school-age Filipinos were exclusively studying through online distance learning while 1.2 million or 4 percent were using a combination of online distance learning and modular distance learning.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte would only allow face-to-face classes once the country’s Covid-19 vaccination program had inoculated 2 million Filipinos.

“The President said let’s have a massive rollout first. It’s not happening anytime soon,” Nograles said.