Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling of Students’ Opinions of the Post-Pandemic Face-to-Face Classes

After years of remote and blended learning, the Philippines’ Basic Education system has fully resumed in-campus instruction, and this study examines students’ views, opinions, and feelings toward the continuation of full face-to-face classes using sentiment analysis and topic modeling. An online survey was conducted through Google Forms with junior and senior high school students from public schools in Misamis Oriental, Philippines as participants. Findings revealed that 72% of responses reflected positive emotions, 17% indicated negative emotions, and 11% were neutral, with most students expressing enthusiasm for social interaction, improved learning experiences, and a return to normalcy, while concerns such as stress, financial strain, and classroom challenges were also noted. Word frequency and topic modeling further showed that the resumption of in-person classes has provided meaningful benefits while also exposing persistent issues that must be addressed. These results emphasize the importance of sustaining resilient and student-centered learning environments that go beyond merely returning to pre-pandemic routines, offering valuable insights for the Department of Education in developing strategies and policies that ensure accessibility, inclusivity, and long-term educational sustainability, with future research recommended at the national level for broader generalization.