School reopening concerns amid a pandemic among higher education students: a developing country perspective for policy development

• Published in: Educational research for policy and practice Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 271 - 288
• Main Author: Garcia, Manuel B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.06.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Education; Educational Policy and Politics; Higher education; International and Comparative Education; Original Article; Pandemics; Private Colleges; University students; Urban Areas; Qualitative research; Emergency remote learning; Higher education; School reopening; Philippines; Developing country
• ISSN: 1570-2081; 1573-1723
• DOI: 10.1007/s10671-024-09366-7

School reopening is essential for restoring normalcy after a period of disruption. However, executing this endeavor during a pandemic requires a comprehensive strategy to ensure success. Consulting stakeholders is consequently crucial for informed and inclusive policies. Prior works recruited public officials, health authorities, teachers, and parents. Unfortunately, students were often not involved in such consultations. The present study addressed this gap by uncovering the sentiments and concerns on school reopening among higher education students. A total of 223 students enrolled in public and private universities from rural and urban areas participated in the study. Based on their reflective essays, students have mixed sentiments about returning to school during the pandemic and highlight safety, academic, health, and financial concerns as major areas requiring attention. It is now incumbent upon governments, schools, policymakers, and education leaders to carefully analyze and incorporate the findings of this study into their back-to-school guidelines and strategies. With informed decision-making and evidenced-based policy, we can build back a stronger and more resilient education system that equitably serves all students in the post-pandemic world.