The UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) has crafted the Ligtas Na Balik Eskwela (LNBE) Roadmap, inclusive of students’ concerns and suggestions; and ensures a democratic and safe resumption of in-person learning, released last December 1, Wednesday.
USC demanded the UP Administration to undertake necessary communication measures, and emphasize the studentry and its interests.
The LNBE Roadmap consists of guidelines regarding safe face-to-face classes inline with student demands. USC spearheaded this endeavor through the Ligtas na Balik Eskwela: Student Readiness Sensing Form that compiled various insights of students on LNBE, representing genuine student representation and consultation.
Based on the results from the sensing form, USC enlisted seven student demands that the UP administration must heed on.
- Inclusion of a student-represented committee in the policy-making body of face-to-face guidelines
- Implementation of blended learning
- Support the needs of students, faculty, and staff for physical, mental, and emotional health
- Retrofitting and utilization of university facilities and equipment
- Genuine academic easing
- Student assistance for finances, housing, and transportation
- Ensuring the democratic rights of students, faculty, and staff
This follows after UPD chancellor Fidel Nemenzo approved the guidelines for the conduct of limited face-to-face classes last November 29 despite “lack of in-depth consultation and coordination” with the students.
According to the guidelines, the first batch of 338 students who will participate in the school reopening next semester are limited to the six colleges that applied (College of Engineering, College of Science, College of Social Work and Community Development, College of Home Economics, College of Music, and the Archaeological Studies Program), degree programs, and degree level; and are dependent on student’s consent.
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) collected responses of students from their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the guidelines, and stated these have been disseminated among the 338 graduating students.
However, USC chair Jonas Abadilla repeatedly asserted that these guidelines were not discussed nor distributed with other UP constituents in detail.
Following the first batch of students, OVCAA plans to add 2,000 more from different academic units in the coming months.
The council will be lobbying the proposed roadmap to the UP administration and respective offices, as well as to local colleges.
Access the roadmap here: https://bit.ly/UPDLBERoadmap
At the local level, the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) studentry is yet to craft its own roadmap due to the college’s non-inclusion in the university-wide proposal.
During the recent College Student Assembly, the CSSP Student Council (SC) enjoined manifestations and insights from the student body to help in the crafting of the roadmap. Updates were also provided based on the data gathered from the student readiness sensing form.
Generally, concerns were raised on the health, transportation, economic, and logistic necessities of the students.
CSSP SC chairperson Neo Aison ensures that constant consultations between the students and the council will be conducted to properly address and involve the students in building the college’s roadmap for the safe resumption to physical classes.
Featured image courtesy of UPD USC
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