It's not just the grades that matter

Private schools who have given passing grades to victims of Ondoy miss the point of education (So does the guy who proposed the idea and even asking for a DepEd Directive. Oh but he retracted and clarified that what he meant was to give "extra credit" and not passing grade. Then again, damage has been done).

Escudero provided two reasons for suggesting this: schools were no longer usable and students could no longer catch up with their lessons. The reaons he has provided can be easily confronted by simple solutions that can benefit the students more than just giving them passing grades.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Create Special Classes
2. Tutorial Classes
3. Distance Learning/Online Learning

We go to school not simply to pass subjects but to acquire learning. Giving the students passing grade doesn't compensate for the opportunity they've lost by not being able to attend to classes.

Those private schools who decided to give passing marks to their students don't have genuine concern. It's an easy escape for them not to spend extra resources in setting-up special classes. Is this greed that's manifesting on their part or simply an unintelligent way of showing empathy?