Photo by SAMASA PUP

Three years after COVID-19 hit the country, many institutions have already opened their gates to catch up with the losses the pandemic has inflicted, academic institutions included.

After the January 2022 announcement of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III on the option to institute limited face-to-face classes for the academic year, students reckoned that this would signal the institution to conduct on-campus learning for the next school year.

Just recently, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa welcomed its students on-campus—for the first time after two academic years in virtual setup—at the start of A.Y. 2022-2023, along with the offering of limited face-to-face classes.

In relation to this, PUP President Manuel Muhi announced in December the preparation of the university for the full face-to-face setup in the forthcoming semester. However, in a memorandum dated on February 9, the university is yet again to implement hybrid mode, or a combination of online and in-campus setup.

Now that the university's second semester is just a month away, the lack of updates and unclear guidelines from the university on the possibility of full on-campus classes next semester is riddled with mixed emotions.

Unclear guidelines

Kyla* from the College of Political Science and Public Administration (CPSPA) expressed her excitement as well as her concern about this announcement.

“Noong una, of course masaya kasi three years na ako sa PUP at hanggang sa ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako nakakaranas ng face-to-face classes.”

“Pero ngayon medyo nababahala na rin ako kasi kahit matagal pa ‘yong next sem, alam naman natin na late na nailalabas ang guidelines. Tulad noong mga nakaraang sem, ‘di ba? Nag-expect talaga ako no’n and medyo nagpeprapare na rin ako tapos biglang hindi pala lahat [ng college] mag-ooffer ng f2f [classes],” she added.

In the guidelines for the second semester, only core, major, board, and laboratory courses, as well as PE and NSTP, will be offered in-person for at least 6 meetings for the whole semester; the rest of the meetings will be online. In addition, a maximum of three in-person classes, with three hours each, will be scheduled in a day to “optimize students’ presence on campus.”

Concerns of students

Kyla also pointed out the importance of preparations, particularly for those who live far from the university, like herself.

“I’m currently residing in Bicol, kaya siguro ang unang preparation na gagawin namin ay mag-secure ng tirahan o dorm, pero dahil wala pang malinaw na guidelines kung kasama ba kami sa f2f na ‘yan next sem, hindi ko alam kung kailan ako luluwas para gawin ‘yun,” she expressed.

Since the start of the pandemic, student leaders and various organizations in the university have been continuously reiterating their demand for the safe resumption of classes, the upholding of genuine academic ease, and accessible education for everyone through open dialogues, student consultations, campaigns, and mobilizations.

In fact, Kyla’s concern about housing quandaries was outlined in a policy proposal of the Rise for Education PUP (R4E PUP), an alliance of students formations calling for a free, accessible, and quality education in the university, which was presented to the Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs on April 21, 2022, and was subsequently sent to CHED as well; however, the agency has not yet responded.

In the 84-page document titled “LBE-Conducive PUP Sta. Mesa Policy Proposal,” it was stipulated that the PUP administration, in cooperation with the Local Government Units, “shall forge a business agreement with boarding houses and dormitories within one (1) kilometer radius, to make sure that student and staff accommodations are safe, rent remains affordable, and contract terms are flexible.”

Furthermore, “a database of dormitories and/or apartments covered in the business agreement and respective rates shall be disclosed to the students, teaching, and non-teaching employees to serve as a reference.”

In addition, Kyla expressed her worries regarding the situation of working students, highlighting the necessity to take them into account while creating the guidelines in case in-person classes are held.

“Kailangan na kailangang iconsider ng PUP ang economic situation or financial capacity ng isang estudyante, especially ngayon na sobrang mahal ng mga bilihin at sobrang taas ng inflation rate.”

In the pillars of the ‘Ligtas na Balik Eskwela’ proposal, it was assured that those who desire to continue their education online may do so at their discretion. 

The eight pillars, which guarantee that students' health won't be jeopardized if in-person classes are executed, include shared responsibility; alternative working arrangements; revamped classroom layout and structure; instructional support to the staff, students, and teachers, school traffic management, protective measures; hygiene practices and safety procedures; communication plan; and a contingency plan.

Face-to-face setup at stake

The much-awaited resumption of face-to-face classes is yet to face another hurdle, as the university is among the state universities and colleges that experienced budget cuts for the year 2023.

Despite a 4.9% increase in the national budget, PUP suffers a P158.1 million budget slash. While there is a 4.33% increase in Personnel Services (PS), there is also a notable drop in Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) at 4.61% and Capital Outlays (CO) at 67.42%.

Both areas that decreased in budget cover the majority of sectors needed to conduct on-campus classes. MOOE covers supplies and materials, transport and travel, utilities, and repair to support the operations of the university; CO, meanwhile, covers facilities and infrastructure projects of the university.

Student leaders have been opposing the budget cut even before its approval, as they deemed a sufficient budget necessary for the years-long campaign ‘ligtas na balik-eskwela.’

PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (SKM) Vice President Benhur Queqquegan stressed the importance of adequate funding in upholding “quality and safe” resumption of in-person classes.

“Inaasahan natin na mas mahihirapang maipatupad ang hinihiling natin na tunay, dekalidad, at ligtas na balik-eskwela dahil sa budget cut. Mula sa mga kagamitan para sa pag-aaral, laboratory equipments, bagong imprastruktura, dagdag silid-aralan, maayos na pasilidad, on-time na sahod ng mga guro at empleyado, at marami pang programa, paniguradong hindi ito agad maisasakatuparan kung kulang sa badyet,” said Queqquegan.

Queqquegan also called for more sustainable programs for the university to ensure safety at the opening of the second semester.

“Gusto natin hindi lang ang back to normal, kundi ang isang better normal para sa mga iskolar kung saan may dagdag kagamitan, maayos na pasilidad, at bagong imprastruktura na magaganap lang kung may sapat na pondo,” he added.

Lastly, Queqquegan questioned the misallocation of government funds as it seeks to implement mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the form of National Citizens Service Training Program (NCSTP).

“Ang kampanyang ‘No To MROTC’ ay lapit din sa kampanyang ligtas na balik-eskwela dahil nais natin na maging ligtas ang mga mag-aaral hindi lamang mula sa bantang pang-kalusugan kundi pati na rin mula sa banta ng estado… Mabuting ma-reallocate na lang yung planong pondo sa MROTC at idagdag ito sa badyet ng mga pamantasan at edukasyon,” Queqquegan ended.

*Not her real name