The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) recently announced that it has moved the date of its opening of classes from September 3 to October 5 for school year 2020-2021.
According to the university, all undergraduate units and graduate schools will adjust their respective school activities and deadlines, except for the College of Law and College of Medicine which will begin classes on the original date of September 3.
The decision to move the opening of classes materialized after the Board of Regents decided to reschedule the opening of classes under blended learning during its August 25 meeting. The University Council also reportedly agreed to the rescheduling.
Both bodies have a similar sentiment---additional one-month window is needed to pave way for more preparations for the rollout of virtual classrooms, as well as to retool faculty, staff, and students on the new modes of learning, PLM said on its Facebook post.
"Additional trainings for professors will be provided, on top of the initial sessions in June and July."
PLM said that a system for printing modules and distribution via the City of Manila’s barangay bureau is also being prepared. "This is to ensure that students with no reliable Internet connections can keep pace."
“We are ramping up our preparations for the opening of PLM’s virtual campus. Remote learning is new to the University but rest assured that we are doing our best to make the experience as smooth and engaging as possible for our dear students,” said PLM President Emmanuel Leyco, adding that they are also finalizing their blended learning protocols to ensure that no student will be left behind under the "new normal" setup.
The registration period for new and returning students is scheduled until September 6, which is purely done online, the university said.
Face-to-face interactions, meanwhile, will remain prohibited to prevent COVID-19 infections.