Cebu students go viral over #LigtasNaBalikEskwela uniform campaign

In a viral Facebook post, Cebuana student leaders Mariel Dumaraos and Celine Lagundi wore their school uniforms as they called for the “safe and gradual” reopening of schools.

“Wore my school [uniform] at the cafe today to campaign for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela. If malls, tourist spots, and bars have reopened, we should push for the safe and gradual reopening of schools too!” Dumaraos wrote in her Facebook post. Dumaraos is a councilor at the Supreme Student Council of the University of San Carlos.

Since 2020, student activist groups such as Rise For Education (R4E) and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) have been campaigning for the safe return of students, teachers, and other academic members to educational institutions.

They have protested against the government for its supposed “lack of response” to the difficulties that millions of work-from-home teachers and parents have faced due to online education. (READ: [ANALYSIS] School opening 2020: Immediate concerns, longer-term structural reforms)

In her post, Dumaraos said that not all students have the resources or the proper learning environment at home for distance learning.

“No student should be left behind. I challenge you to wear your school [uniform] at home or in public to campaign for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela,” she said.

“Students now have to have a stable internet connection, gadgets that are compatible with the learning software, and a proper learning environment at home. This setup doesn’t serve the masses and will remain a setback to learning among the youth,” Dumaraos said in a chat interview with Rappler.

Lagundi, the chairwoman of Gabriela Youth at the University of San Carlos, joined Dumaraos in the campaign.

In another viral post on Twitter, Lagundi shared pictures of her and Dumaraos sporting their uniforms in a local cafe, calling for the government to reopen the academic institutions.

Lagundi asked in her tweet why student should continue “suffering” from the challenges of online learning when business establishments such as bars are allowed to reopen.

Wore our uniforms outside today because I mean, if they’re able to open the cafes, the restaurants, and the malls, they should be able to open the schools too, right? 😗 @marieldumaraos ❤️#LigtasNaBalikEskwela pic.twitter.com/C2MeguMpIC

— celine #DefendFilipinoWomen (@betelgeused_) June 28, 2021

Kabataan Partylist national spokesperson Raoul Manuel praised the students for their innovative campaign, and retweeted their posts on his official accounts, alongside his sentiments. 

“Hinahamon tayo ni Mariel Dumaraos, Councilor, University of San Carlos Supreme Student Council: Wear-your-school-uniform-amid-pandemic challenge,” he said.

(We are being challenged by Mariel Dumaraos, who is a councilor from the University of San Carlos Supreme Student Council: Wear-your-school-uniform-amid-pandemic challenge,)

As of posting time, Dumaraos’ post had drawn more than 12,000 reactions and shared over 9,000 times.

Earlier in May, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chair Prospero de Vera III said that “flexible learning will be the new norm” and even told critics of the policy that they were confusing online class with flexible learning.

De Vera, however, had also said that universities and colleges have the freedom to choose which mode of instruction would be effective for them, and that CHED may allow face-to-face classes if the pandemic situation improves and proper facilities are prepared. – Rapppler.com