Due to the surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country, several higher education institutions (HEIs) in areas where the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is enforced have declared suspension of classes for students and work for faculty and other personnel.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila on Monday, April 5, announced that work and classes are suspended until April 11.
In an advisory from the Office of the Secretary General posted on UST's Facebook page, it was stated that the suspension of classes and office work was declared “in order to allow our stakeholders to focus on their health and family concerns in light of the spike in COVID-19 cases.”
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), in an advisory posted on its official Facebook page on April 4, announced that it “will not conduct live virtual sessions for students in the coming week.”
Instead, PLM said that only asynchronous classes - which involves recorded video or audio lectures available for viewing any time will be observed - from April 5 to 11. It added that there will be “no class assignments, quizzes, examinations, or projects are required to be submitted during ECQ” and that “submission deadlines must be set at least one week later.”
The Lundayan Student Publication, the official school publication of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig, shared on its Facebook Page on April 4 that “classes are suspended.”
However, for more information - whether or not it is only for synchronous classes - students were directed to consult their respective college deans.
The school publication also said that the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig has “released an advisory from the University President saying that due to the extension of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Greater Manila Area, suspension of synchronous and asynchronous classes are also extended until April 10, 2021.” Midterm examination date, it added, will also be announced.
The Cavite State University System, in an announcement posted on its Facebook page on April 4, also announced the suspension of synchronous classes.
“In line with the extension of the ECQ, synchronous classes are still suspended in the whole University system until 11 April 2021,” the CSU System said.
However, it noted that “asynchronous tasks shall be given to students, which may be submitted in any accessible mode agreed upon by both faculty and students.”
In order to compensate for the lost days due to suspension of classes, it added that scheduled academic break for the semester “shall be used in conducting synchronous classes.”
On April 3, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in a televised announcement, said that EC over the National Capital Region (NCR)-plus will be extended for another week or from April 5 to 11.
Roque on March 27 first announced that areas under NCR-plus would be placed under ECQ due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. The ECQ - which is considered the strictest quarantine level - was implemented from March 29 to April 4 in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.