PAMANTASAN ng Lungsod ng Maynila conducted a virtual classroom dry-run to ensure the smooth opening of classes on October 5.

The dry-run, held on September 14, started with a flag ceremony and included a virtual campus tour, opening remarks of the University president and virtual classroom sessions using MS Teams.

PLM President Emmanuel Leyco said that despite the huge changes brought by the Covid19 pandemic, the university remains true to its goal to deliver quality education to its students.

“Mayroon po tayong hindi binabago sa pamantasan, bagama’t wala na po tayo pansamantala na mga face-to-face classroom sessions, inihanda na po natin ang ating pamantasan para po sa muling pagbubukas ng ating virtual campus, virtual na po pansamantala ngayong susunod na academic year, he said.

He however admitted that despite the five-month preparation, the university still faces some challenges since everyone is new to full online classes.

“Alam naman natin na bagama’t mahaba-haba na rin ang panahon ng ating paghahanda marami pa rin po tayong mga suliranin, marami pa rin po tayong mga balakid na kailangan nating tugunan at pangibabawan at wala naman po tayong ilusyon na alam na natin kung ano ang gagawin natin sa pagbubukas ng ating virtual PLM campus,” he added.

Leyco said PLM accepted 7,000 freshmen students for the academic year 2020-2021, higher than the  3,000 students prior to the pandemic.

He attributed the increase to the economic fallout of the health crisis. With many people losing their jobs, parents transferred their children to public schools.

Leyco said that PLM will continue to help students and faculty.

“Buong-buo po ang ating loob, buong-buo po ang ating paninidigan na ating ipagpapatuloy, ating itataguyod ang ating tungkulin hindi lamang para sa mga mag-aaral, hindi lang po para sa mga guro kundi ito ay para sa sambayanang Filipino,” he said.