SCAP urges DepEd, CHED for academic ease amidst typhoon Odette

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Extending their sympathy and standing in solidarity with the students and families devastated by the super typhoon Odette, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), together with other student and youth organizations, urges the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for an academic ease.

SCAP, along with its signatories, presses CHED and DepEd to consider the most beneficial and proactive step to helping the students affected by the storm by mandating public and private schools to suspend classes, deadlines, and academic requirements.

Akbayan Partylist second nominee Dr. RJ Naguit stressed that the suspension of academic affairs amid the disaster will help ease the burden for the affected students.

Since the first slam of typhoon Odette last 16 December in the southern and central regions of the archipelago, the death toll surged to 208, at least 239 were injured and 52 went missing, and more than 300,000 were displaced – the national police tally showed.

The National Risk Reduction and Management Council also reported in their initial report that the typhoon caused at least P118 million worth of damage to agriculture and P225 million damage to infrastructure.

With the grave crisis at hand, students have limited access to the internet and power supply, making it difficult to attend online classes and meet academic requirements.

“Their situation is not a question of discipline, it’s a matter of privilege that the broad studentry does not have. In these trying times, they need compassion, not pressure. They need help, not punishment if they cannot comply.” SCAP National Chairperson Ken Paolo Gilo said.

Amidst the alarming casualties left by the calamity, SCAP calls for support from other student and youth organizations to sign their Unity Statement, asserting “the suspension of classes, deadlines, and academic requirements with utmost consideration for the students during these trying times.”

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