ONE OF ONlY TWO IN THE REGION

THE Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan is only one of two Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in Region1 allowed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to hold limited face-to-face classes effective the second semester of academic year 2020-2021.

This was reported by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), quoting CHED Regional Director Dr. Rogelio Galera Jr. who said the other university allowed limited face-to-face classes is the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Galena said the two universities passed stringent retrofitting and have fully complied with the guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH), the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), the local government units, and CHED.

He said they understand the clamor of the students to return to their respective schools but for the CHED, health and the lives of the students are more important because the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic still continues.

The Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-001 selected allied health-related degree programs, such as Medicine, Nursing, Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, Physical Therapy, Midwifery, and Public Health were prioritized to conduct limited face-to-face classes.

However, Galena noted that while the subjects or courses under these priority programs will be allowed for face-to-face delivery, but will be limited in specialized laboratory courses or hospital-based clinical clerkship/internship/practicum, including clinical rotations for post-graduate medical interns.

Both CHED and DOH noted that the priority for the gradual reopening of campuses for limited face-to-face classes will be given to selected health-related degree programs regarded as vital in providing additional manpower support to the health system.

The guidelines of the joint memorandum circular signed by CHED and DOH also indicates that the holding of limited face-to-face classes is not mandatory.

While it is within the discretion of HEIs to decide when they intend to conduct limited face-to-face classes, the HEIs may also opt not to conduct limited in-person classes and may continue to implement flexible learning, Galera said.  (Leonardo Micua) 

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