The past term (1st quarter 09-10) is unusual in the sense that it did not run its natural course. Classes were cut short by more or less 3 weeks due to a virus and a nationwide calamity that is Ondoy. In addition to the almost countless flood victims who were sent to evacuation centers, there were "other victims" of Ondoy - the students.
Ondoy's timing is terrible - it struck just before the final exams when every student is cramming to pass their subjects. But unlike the legit victims of Ondoy, there were no volunteers and relief goods in sight to help the students salvage their grades. Many were doomed to fail their subjects, but many were also silently thanking Ondoy for they had an instant excuse for failing.
Ondoy's timing is terrible - it struck just before the final exams when every student is cramming to pass their subjects. But unlike the legit victims of Ondoy, there were no volunteers and relief goods in sight to help the students salvage their grades. Many were doomed to fail their subjects, but many were also silently thanking Ondoy for they had an instant excuse for failing.
One conversation with a student ran like this:
STUDENT: Sir, what's my grade?
ASTIGNAGURO: 5.00
S: 5.00?! (Showing an almost genuine sadness.) It's because of Ondoy.
A: Why, was your brain washed out by the floods? Your grade was already failing pre-Ondoy.
S: No sir, my notes got washed out by the floods! And I was not able to review for the finals.
A: A perfect score in the finals will get you a grade of ..... uhmmmm 5.00.
S: Is there anything I can do to pass? Special project? Removal exam?
A: Go ask Ondoy.
Considering that there are only about 11 weeks in a term, that means everything has to be crammed in the 8 weeks that were left. Because of the shorter term, there were less time for studying. Students will not sacrifice their DOTA time and Facebook time just to study. Are you kidding? They'd die of hunger first before you can rip their faces off the computer screen. A good number of students were logged in to Facebook the night before the final exams.
And these students were the other victims of Ondoy?
STUDENT: Sir, what's my grade?
ASTIGNAGURO: 5.00
S: 5.00?! (Showing an almost genuine sadness.) It's because of Ondoy.
A: Why, was your brain washed out by the floods? Your grade was already failing pre-Ondoy.
S: No sir, my notes got washed out by the floods! And I was not able to review for the finals.
A: A perfect score in the finals will get you a grade of ..... uhmmmm 5.00.
S: Is there anything I can do to pass? Special project? Removal exam?
A: Go ask Ondoy.
Considering that there are only about 11 weeks in a term, that means everything has to be crammed in the 8 weeks that were left. Because of the shorter term, there were less time for studying. Students will not sacrifice their DOTA time and Facebook time just to study. Are you kidding? They'd die of hunger first before you can rip their faces off the computer screen. A good number of students were logged in to Facebook the night before the final exams.
And these students were the other victims of Ondoy?
