ALMOST half of the students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – College of Communication are not certain if they’ll be able to enroll for the coming school year..

According to a survey posted by the Kabataan Partylist PUP-COC, at least 43.2 percent of the mass communication students are contemplating skipping the 1st semester of school year 2020-2021, while 52.6 percent have decided they will proceed with their studies.

A small part of the mass com population, or about 4.2 percent, have made known their decision to quit this school year.

The survey was commissioned from 287 out of the more than 2,000 students of the PUP’s mass communication course.

In the same survey, the students cited the government’s failure to conduct mass testing and the availability of medicine for Covid19 as among the reasons why they are skeptical about going back to their classes, pure online or other learning modalities.

The survey also revealed that 23.8 percent of the respondents claimed that they have limited internet access, 20 percent believed that online classes are ineffective and 13.3 percent admitted to not having gadgets due to family’s limited income.

On the other hand, 58.9 percent are in favor of the safe opening of classes of which safety protocols and regular disinfection of the vicinity will be strictly followed.

Also in the same survey, around 27.6 percent answered they are not in favor of the opening of classes, while 13.5 percent gave alternatives and suggestions on how universities can safely open classes.

Meanwhile, some mass organizations appeared disapproving of the online classes, saying that the students are not the only ones affected by the pandemic.

“Hindi lang ang mga estudyante ang maaapektuhan ng ganitong midyum-pagkatuto sapagkat ang ibang sektor sa komunidad ng PUP ay lalong mawawalan ng kabuhayan ‘gaya ng mga janitor, manininda, drayber at ilang kaguruan sa paaralan,” KPL PUP-COC said, stressing that other members of the university are also affected.

PUP has announced that it will open classes on September 14 using flexible learning schemes like online classes or modular learning.