A resolution urging all accredited public and private higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the city to terminate early the current semester, trimester, quarter or equivalent academic period, was pushed at the City Council.
City SK Federation President and City Council Ex-Officio Member Myka Magbanua, the author of the resolution, told the media in an interview that alongside this call to HEIs is a request to reconsider mass promoting their students during this COVID-19 global pandemic.
“We really call for all the administrators ng different HEIs within the city na sana pro-student ito. Let us all remember that the students is the biggest stakeholders of all schools, universities,” said Magbanua.
“Ngayon sa kasalukuyan nakikita natin na halos ang majority o halos lahat na ata ng ating mga HEIs within the City of Puerto Princesa are still into online classes and requiring a ton of online requirements sa lahat ng mga estudyante natin. We are still in the general community quarantine. Alam natin ang kalagayan ng mga students natin. Not all of the students have access to internet connection. Some of the students don’t have their own computers. Umaasa sila sa internet shops. Some of the students don’t even have a smartphone,” she added.
Magbanua also reiterated that not all the villages in the city have electricity and stable network signal.
Under the draft of the resolution Magbanua stated students must be given a passing mark for the course, considering they have a passing numerical grade for their data from January-to-March compliance of course requirements.
Magbanua also noted that no student shall be given a failure or incomplete “INC” grade, provided they have complied with their requirements during the first three months of the 2nd Semester of this academic year.
Magbanua further indicated that should there be a pressing need to give a student a grade of INC due to failure of complying most of the requirements during the academic year’s first three months, the deadline of completion for the removal of “INC” incurred shall be extended up to second semester of the next academic year 2020-2021.
On the other hand, Magbanua also said that both the “graduate and undergraduate students” set to graduate June this year shall be given a passing grade due to loss of opportunity to complete requirements for the removal of their INC.
However, Magbanua noted that those students who have already officially withdraw or dropped the course even before the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) shall be retained in their withdrawn status.
“Sana mapag-bigyan ng mga higher educational institutions natin. Please reconsider. They have all the right to have their own academic policies ngayong panahon na ito ang mga HEIs natin. The CHED has given them the authority to have their own policies. So sana ‘yong mga polisiya na magawa, mga polisiya na ma-aprubahan ay pro-student. Hindi lang pro-student, [but also] pro-faculty,” said Magbanua.
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