THE NEGROS Oriental State University continues to prepare for the possible resumption of face-to-face classes.

College of Nursing, Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences Dean Christine de la Peña said officials are preparing the guidelines and planning the retrofitting of physical facilities based on the guidelines set by the Commission on Higher Education.

“Once in place, we need to have the necessary approval from CHED and other concerned agencies. Aside from that, a consultation with the parents and students will be done after,” De la Peña added.

Under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-001, Higher Education Institutions are required to redesign their classrooms, laboratories, and communal areas to maintain a social distance of 1.5 meters.

The memorandum indicated that classes will be “delimited to specialized laboratory courses or hospital-based clinical clerkship/internship/practicum, including clinical rotations for post-graduate medical interns.”

Only courses in medicine, nursing, medical technology or medical laboratory science, physical therapy, midwifery and public health are allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes once the government allows it.