This year 2021 holds an important promise to humanity as codified treatments to control the effects of the COVID-19 are already in the final phase of the clinical test. With that positive note, there is also a new glimmer of hope in higher education as it will navigate another challenging but interesting era. This essay article explores the concept of a post-COVID-19 era called ‘next normal’ in the context of Philippine higher education. Drawing from the experiences, observations, and reflections, the researcher conceptually introduces the idea of a next normal and then discusses it in the context of Philippine higher education. This paper contends that the next normal is not the ‘what’ but the ‘how’ as higher education navigates beyond the COVID-19 crisis. It is characterized by an active reshaping process that involves the following actions: bolstering teaching and learning continuity, developing educational recovery plans, keeping the machine running as an obligation, and attuning the curriculum to the next demands. A conclusion answering the metaphorical cure to COVID-19 in higher education to pave the way to the next normal is presented. Finally, a next normal framework for higher education which authorities and teachers may consider in educational planning is offered at the end of the paper.
Navigating the Post-COVID-19 Era of ‘Next Normal’ in the Context of Philippine Higher Education