After holding recent discussions with students to assess the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Summer Program and collect direct feedback, the Second Congressional Commission on Education has found that overcrowded classrooms and bullying drive absenteeism and lower engagement, while smaller class sizes are linked to better participation and safer learning environments.
Initiated by the Department of Education, the program conducted from May 6 to June 2 provides small group tutorials focused on reading, mathematics, and science for struggling public school learners.
During a focus group discussion, students from Grades 8 to 10 raised concerns about persistent bullying and classroom disruption during the regular school year, where class sizes are up to 60 students.
They said that in contrast, ARAL’s smaller classes of about 10 learners create a safer, more supportive environment, letting them participate more openly and concentrate better.
They described regular classes as chaotic, noisy, and disruptive, saying some classmates engage in bullying behaviors such as physical aggression and taking of belongings.
They also shared that they are sometimes teased about their gender and subjected to severe ridicule from peers when they make mistakes while reading aloud. “We come to school to learn, not to be embarrassed,” one said.
According to the students, bullying sometimes escalates into coordinated attacks, leading to fear, absenteeism, and avoidance of school.
Some experience cyberbullying, with stolen videos and photos of them taken in restrooms being posted on social media.
Many, however, were hesitant to report the incidents, citing ineffective interventions and fear of retaliation.
Beyond issues on classroom dynamics, some students raised concerns about poor learning conditions in overcrowded, poorly ventilated classrooms.
“The experience of the students in Baseco, Tondo, teaches us that our students are struggling not simply due to academic challenges, but because of various factors, including bullying,” said EDCOM2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that overcrowded classrooms are a major factor in the decline in the quality of education in the country, but the EDCOM2 discussions with students confirms the problem that our education officials seem to have difficulty solving, even if they must’ve known about it for years, if not decades.
How much longer will Filipino learners have to deal with overcrowded classrooms and all the disadvantages that come with such a setup?*
