Face-to-Fear: Understanding the Views of Students, Parents, and Teachers on the Return to Face-to-Face Classes During the Pandemic

Abstract

Online Distance Learning (ODL) became the new normal for schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After adjusting to this learning modality for a year, the Department of Education (DepEd) considered the resumption of face-to-face (F2F) classes. This study aimed to reveal the readiness and understanding of students, teachers, and parents in resuming F2F classes. Phenomenological Qualitative research was utilized to provide an in-depth understanding of students’ and parents’ and teachers’ experiences in ODL and F2F classes and to measure the pandemic’s impact on the educational system. One-on-one interviews were conducted with two students, two parents, and two teachers from St. Mary’s College Quezon City’s (SMCQC) Senior High School Department via Microsoft Teams meetings. Findings showed that students and teachers are more inclined to F2F classes in terms of education, while parents prefer ODL to monitor their children more closely. This shows that parents’ priority is their children’s safety. For the school administration, it was recommended to investigate the educators' teaching competence through both learning modalities and to consider further developments in monitoring the mental well-being of both students and educators.