STUDENTS, parents and faculty members have raised issues and concerns after the UP College of Dentistry Executive Committee approved the conduct of face-to-face classes.

A report of the UP Dentistry Student Council showed the department heads presented the requirements for face-to-face classes in a meeting held last June 20, 2020.

The student body, however, raised the need for the provision of PPEs, conduct of swab tests, financial subsidies and the travel restrictions to be encountered by students especially those who reside in Visayas and Mindanao.

The students and their parents submitted a position letter to the UPCD Dean and Executive Committee stating that concrete plans must be first considered to guarantee the well-being and safety of the learners.

“The students now find themselves hard-pressed to comply with the directives since no detailed, updated and finalized plans and guidelines have been presented. We acknowledge that this journey is a tripartite one, concerning the students, faculty, and the administration as the indispensable. It is for this reason that we seek strengthened collaboration and will arrive at the best possible consideration workable for all the parties involved,” the UP Dentistry Student Council wrote in a letter.

The position letter submitted last August 13, 2020 was signed by 173 students and 79 parents.

Concerned faculty members also wrote a petition last August 11, 2020 to the offices of the Dean and Executive Committee seeking to move face-to-face classes to the second semester.

UP DSC also asked the university administration to be transparent in releasing the official memorandum issued by the office of the Chancellor since no document concerning the approval of face-to-face classes can be noted.

The DSC stressed that despite their eagerness to cooperate in resolving the concerns of the constituents, the university administration still chose to remain silent.

“The administration still has not given any concrete plans nor proof that the facilities are ready to handle face-to-face classes. The DSC has asked the administration numerous times for updates on the current status of the College, but the Executive Committee does not respond in a concrete, straightforward manner,” the student body said.