25/07/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ก๐จโ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ? ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ-๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ
Three years after campuses reopened, many hoped for a return to vibrant student lifeโbuzzing events, energized organizations, and high-stakes student elections. However, participation has drastically declined. Today, student councils face the challenge of sparsely filled slates, events have fewer attendees, and formerly busy organizational rooms are eerily silent. The question remains: Who actually participates now?
The relationship with campus life has evolved. The pandemic affected more than classesโit disrupted social life, mental health, and redefined success. For people like most online learners, the feeling of community that traditional college participation provides was never nurtured. With the opening of campuses came the revival of most face-to-face organizational initiatives. In the midst of transition from online participation to in person activity, a newer challenge is metโthe new reality of decreasing student involvement.
This is not simply a case of lack of interest. Once lively seminars are now sparsely attended, with barely 30 to 50 students showing up. In Republic Central Colleges, while most student councils and recognized student organizations practice lively initiatives, most council activities struggle to attract strong participation. During the celebrations of the Buwan ng Wika and English Month in August and September last year, fewer departments sent participants and representatives to competitions. This was most evident during Intramurals Week last February, where only 3 or 4 of the 7 departments participated in most competitions. While this may reflect lack of promotion and interest from organizing committees and the participating body, it goes without saying that it is also a product of the lack of innovationโdiversity, inclusivity, and something new to offer to the post-pandemic norm.
Students are often labeled as indifferent. The truth is far more nuanced. A lot of students are dealing with social anxiety, academic strain, or financial difficulties. Others take on part time jobs or provide care at home. Some have just run out of energy. Students are looking for something fresher than the same recycled activities and competitions repeated every year. Most, if not all, have to deal with personal challenges first before they face the brand of โlack of interestโ instilled without empathy.
In the newer world, participation is not a defaultโit's a privilege.
However, student engagement should never be an option as it forms an essential part of their educational journey. Outside traditional education programs, leadership positions together with advocacy programs and creative initiatives help students develop communication skills and critical thinking abilities that increase their confidence levels. Their experiences shape personal development which traditional grading methods cannot offer. Without this, the learning environment becomes negatively affected as students stop engaging which creates problems for realities beyond the chalkboard.
Colleges need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to listening to student voices in their decision-making processes. The activities within the learning environment should respect modern-day student needs and offer inclusive participation possibilities. Student leaders should focus on innovation with empathy among all activities that are driven by purpose. While competitions are good strategies to boost engagement, newer seminars, workshops, and training for practical skills are best suited for the development of the student body. With this, the institutions can establish support structures instead of simply imposing student involvement requirements.
Rekindling the participation of students is more than just a vision; itโs a reality that needs to remain attainable. With that, events should feel relevant. Active leadership roles should be accessible, not overwhelming. Engagement opportunities should support mental health and allow for academic flexibility. Above all, students should know they matterโnot just to boost numbers, but to create something worthwhile.
Student involvement never vanished. It's just waiting: for room, backing, and a clearer goal. If schools pay attention and take deliberate steps, the echoing silence in campuses can still be filledโwith students speaking up, taking action, and building stronger ties.
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Cartoon by John Robert F. Mendiola
Content and Layout by Robb Gabriel I. Basco
