“There is no progress without compromise. No victory without sacrifice.”
― President Alma Coin, The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay
Field of Accountancy in Polytechnic University of the Philippines is the real life Hunger Games for most of its students. The University has been known as one of the prestigious universities in the country, in fact, it topped in various licensure exams; bagged a lot of awards; and was known as the top school of choice of many companies in the country way back 2016 as to JobStreet Philippines. But these recognitions would not be possible if the University had not enforced policies to maintain its good standing. It actually has a “Dos Policy” in the field of Accountancy that requires students to have a maintaining grade of 2.00 or higher in major subjects but failure to comply with this, students are to be subjected to take a Special Qualifying Exam – which serves as the second and last chance of students to stay in their chosen course.
The policy has indeed proved its worth no matter how hard it is for the students to keep their position. But in the time of pandemic when the new system of education has begun, can we say that it is ethical to keep and follow the rule? If you would be given a chance to be Katniss Everdeen for a day, would you go against the odds; would you demand for equity; or would you still be a piece of the game?
Undeniably, students also benefit from this policy. Some students believe that this policy gives them the drive, inspiration and motivation in their studies and performance. It enhances their competence and increases their competitiveness in their chosen course which brings out the best in them! They also treat it as an opportunity to evaluate their skill and as a sweet reward of their hard work if they were able to comply with it. The ability to study with this policy provides the students a sense of security, positive outlook and eagerness to learn more and do better on their following studies. It eliminates the mediocrity that lies within themselves and aims for the best. And most of all, it distinguishes deserving and undeserving students and grants them the consequences they have to face to know more about themselves and guide them to their life’s redirection.
But a coin is never one sided, it has disadvantages too. Due to its demand, it gives students pressure, stress and anxiety that drains them mentally and physically. This policy requires plenty of time and so much focus that it prevents students from spending time to associate with other people. Aside from that, this policy oversees and does not address the issues that actually arise in the course. It is too occupied to measure the performance of the students that it forgets to check the quality of education that they are providing as there are some professors that do not teach with competence and excellence. Speaking in truth, there are professors who have questionable grading methods that result in the passing of undeserving students and failing those who truly deserve to pass. Therefore, the judgement of the policy is sometimes applied to the wrong people.
What Pres. Alma Coin said is true; there is indeed no progress without compromise and no victory without sacrifice, but the question is, haven’t we compromised and sacrificed enough during this time of pandemic? How many students out there have sacrificed their life just to be able to put food over their table? These students are so desperate to competently finish their studies because it’s their only ray of hope but do they have a choice? They had to be the tribute of their family to feed their hunger and they took that responsibility. How many students out there had compromised their studies? Unbeknownst to us, there are students who currently suffer from abuses and no one’s ready to talk about that. There are households that are too toxic and no one witnesses that but those students alone. How many students have you heard crying because they cannot spend their left pennies for the internet; because they do not have a suitable learning space; because they do not have enough resources to study? You know nothing about how it truly feels, because you are not them. They have sacrificed and compromised more than enough.
The truth is we are not on the same page. All of us are adjusting but not all are adjusting well. Both professors and students are sacrificing and compromising right now which results in mediocre teaching and learning. The policy has really proven its excellence, but like what the others say; there is a time and place for everything. Maybe we can consider setting it aside or implementing it less strictly. Or maybe we should just remind everyone to be more emphatic to each other because everyone is struggling. But no matter what happens, rest assured, we are victors, soldiers.
