COMMISSION on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera III on Tuesday stressed the importance of holding physical classes, saying it is the only way to acquire skills especially for those taking up health-related programs.

“Kapag hindi natin pinabalik ang mga bata, baka hindi nila makuha ‘yung skills na kailangan. Kapag hindi nakapag-clinical internship ang mga kumukuha ng medisina at nursing, halimbawa, baka hindi nila makuha ‘yung hands-on skill,” De Vera said.

He stressed that these students have to hone their skills because their job is to save lives.

“Kapag guma-graduate iyan, makapasa man sa licensure, baka ‘yung kakayanan nila eh hindi ganun kaganda, eh delikado ang kanilang mga pasyente,” the official said.

He expressed fears that prolonged suspension of physical classes would hinder students from graduating on time.

“Halimbawa sa maritime, kailangan talaga diyan gumamit ka ng makina kung paano paandarin ang isang barko, kung paano aayusin. Kung hindi natin papayagan ang mga estudyanteng gawin iyan hindi sila makakatapos ng kurso nila. Hindi sila makakakuha ng licensure test,” De Vera said.

Citing the need to train more health workers amid the Covid19, President Rodrigo Duterte gave his nod to CHED’s proposal for students in health-related courses to resume F2F classes last February.