Andronico Del Rosario
Netizens have just likened a recent decision from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in light of the Department of Health (DOH) posting a record high 9,838 positive cases of COVID-19 on March 26.
CHED allowed 24 colleges and universities to hold limited face-to-face classes beginning in the second semester of AY 2020-2021.
The catch: all 24 offer medical and allied health programs.
JUST IN: CHED allows 24 colleges, universities to hold limited face-to-face classes beginning second semester of AY 2020-2021.
CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera says these schools can "bring their third and fourth year students for hands-on training and laboratory classes." pic.twitter.com/yzz5n2cLK1
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) March 26, 2021
In a statement, CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera said, “The 24 schools can bring their third and fourth-year students for hands-on training and laboratory classes.”
It is something that has plagued medical students since the start of the pandemic.
Netizens, however, were not too happy about this announcement and expressed that the time is not right after close to 10,000 COVID-19 cases were confirmed positive on that day.
Walang twitter ang nag isip nito, hindi nya alam magte ten thousand a day na nagkaka covid
— Ramon Bautista (@ramonbautista) March 26, 2021
Really? amid a surge in a pandemic? if this would result to more transmissions? who's the brilliant guy Behind this? can't wait for Vaccine rollout first? Lives or livelihood, now it's lives or education? what's you're point #CHED?
— I AM (@robertbaruelo) March 26, 2021
One Netizen even revived a classic: Katniss Everdeen from the hit trilogy The Hunger Games.
24 Universities for the first annual hunger games.
May the odds be ever in your favor! https://t.co/Yi7GRMlJo5 pic.twitter.com/wmBiFUImd1— Alfred (@Alfred_Lnd) March 26, 2021
Others are concerned more because their college or university would be or is already on the list.
https://twitter.com/bestboysmonstax/status/1375350931584393217
Hinahanap ko UMak sa list ng 24 colleges and universities na pinayagan ng CHED para sa limited face to face classes, pero wala. 😪
— krisyabilyanweba (@vllnvkrz) March 26, 2021
stay strong guardian angel! ayoko pa mamatay ng di nakikita abs ni wonwoo in real lifehttps://t.co/Pr0nrtM8oH
— ًcess (@wongyuyomi) March 26, 2021
Some, however, saw what most Netizens probably have missed: only medical and allied health programs were allowed to hold face-to-face classes.
https://twitter.com/atierdjem/status/1375443224173551624
CHED approves the resumption of face-to-face classes in 24 Colleges and Universities, unfortunately our school was included. However I think it's just for medical courses required for their laboratory. Im an engineering student so no probs for now. FINGERS CROSS* https://t.co/OYo8JBvjJF
— ηιgнтѕку (@Uranophile12) March 26, 2021
A Netizen, however, remembered an early proposed policy from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF): having medical students be part of the healthcare workforce at the start of the pandemic.
I wonder,Majority (not sure if all)have medicine and nursing courses.
Hosps need reinforcements now bec of the surge.
And the next decision of the govt is to expose kids (19 or 20 yr olds) to battle this pandemic without having solid healthcare structures in place? Just No.
— RockinMama (@mama_rockin) March 26, 2021
Efforts to revive face-to-face classes have floated since the scheduled opening of AY 2020-2021 was pushed back due to the pandemic.
Despite assurances that measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus between students, according to Education Secretary Leonor Briones–after discovering new coronavirus strains, President Rodrigo Duterte retracted a decision to allow a pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in January 2021.
Duterte later vetoed any suggestions for face-to-face classes in February, telling Filipino schools to wait until COVID-19 vaccines are available.
