Youth org protests resumption of limited face-to-face classes

A YOUTH group has denounced the recent decision of local education officials to resume the physical holding of classes in 24 colleges and universities on a limited basis.

“[We condemn] the sudden conduct of limited face-to-face classes of several HEIS higher education institutions) [amid the rise of pandemic infections] in the country,” Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) said in a statement. “Students, teaching and nonteaching staff are being exposed to the virus for the sake of opening up the economy.”

Hands-on training and laboratory classes were allowed for third- and fourth-year health-allied students starting the second semester of Academic Year 2020-2021, as reported in the Businessmirror on March 26 Read: CHED allows 24 colleges, universities to hold limited face-to-face classes.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said the HEIS were able to pass the imposed guidelines, as well as those by the Department of Health (DOH) and Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Amid the resurgence of high coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection rates nationwide, the commission still continues to open colleges and universities, in-line with the government’s plan to slowly reopen the economy.

“The fact that opening up the economy is the primary reason [CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III] wishes to open HEIS means that education isn’t really his priority,” the group stated. “Safety of the academic community is not also included in his priority, as he allowed HEIS to conduct limited face-to-face classes at a time when cases of Covid-19 infections are at their peak.”

The Philippines started to see new record-high cases of the virulent disease on March 13, when the day’s figure reached 5,219. Since then, the numbers had breached the 15,000 level in the first days of April.

“The opening of face-to-face classes, [though] limited, can possibly contribute greatly to the number of Covid-19 cases,” SPARK said.

Insurance borne by students?

THE group also criticized guidelines on the medical insurance of students imposed by CHED and DOH with the opening of classes. Based on regulations, HEIS will be responsible to cover expenses in the event a student is infected because of the conduct of limited face-to-face classes.

“Despite registering students to Philhealth or any related medical insurances, the budget to cover medical expenses related to Covid-19 will be most likely taken from miscellaneous fees charged unto students,” SPARK pointed out. “This will be [an added burden on learners and their families] who are already suffering financial problems due to the pandemic.”

Two days before it announced the approved continuation of limited face-to-face classes, CHED said it will prioritize the inoculation of teaching and nonteaching personnel of HEIS, in time for the gradual opening of colleges and universities.

“While this may be of great help for the teaching and nonteaching staff, it is still pointless, as students are [likewise] exposed to, and are prone, to get infected,” the organization insisted. “Moreover, getting vaccinated doesn’t mean [they] will be safe, as they can still infect [others, or get themselves] infected by the virus.”

SPARK concluded, “We are not guinea pigs, and we deplore that we are taken for granted by...authorities. Health and safety should be topmost priority at times like these. Unless it is already guaranteed safe and there will be…free and mass vaccination for all, no face-toface classes should be conducted.”