By Agatha Pablo
De La Salle University- Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) Vice Chancellor for Academics and Research (VCAR) Dr. Marco Saez targets the possibility of onsite usage for facilities only while classes will still remain fully online for the second semester of this academic year, 2021 to 2022.
The reopening of the University for facilities such as laboratories, the library and computer laboratories are just optional and supplemental. Yet, this will only be available to people who can fulfill the requirements needed.
“When I say supplemental, it’s not something that would be needed to complete the course.” Saez clarified.
The initial requirements for students to use the said facilities, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), is that all personnel entering the schools grounds should be fully vaccinated and each student should have an updated PhilHealth Insurance under COVID coverage.
However, final instructions will be given soon regarding this matter.
The VCAR cleared out that no classes will be conducted in the facility but will only be used for consultation and an instrument to suffice the materials needed in a subject that is only available in the school’s laboratories.
“Re-opening of the library, opening of the laboratory (use). Not for classes. Parang open lab or kung mayroong may kailangan mag-experiment o gumamit ng lab. And also the computer laboratory, recognizing na maraming ring challenges ang estudyante given access to technology,” Saez emphasized.
Moreover, all fourth year students who will undergo their internship next semester will be open to online and onsite.
“Oo, pwede(ng) practicum onsite. Again, they have to satisfy the requirements,” Saez mentioned.
But, guidelines are yet to be provided as well.
When asked if the University will push through a face to face graduation for the first batch of K-12 who are expected to graduate next semester, “The Chancellor is encouraging us to work on it. We follow naman the marching order of the chancellor. It will take a long preparation. But we are open to it,” Saez said.
The University also has their sights on exams being onsite while consultation is blended with online and face to face.
Saez shared the reason for the latest announcement regarding second semester’s full online learning, “Of course we’re happy that [Alert] Level 2 na dito sa Cavite, but given where we are in the world and the rate of our response compared to the others, parang we are foreseeing [na] hindi pa siya end as far as the pandemic is concerned.”
“If you actually look around the world, they are already experiencing the fourth surge. So if we’re going to impose [and] require onsite learning, we’re afraid that may ma-trap na naman na nag–do-dorm dito. Mahihirapan makauwi and all those things,” he added.
Completion of details regarding these new developments will be finalized in December.
