STUDENTS of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines called for the reinstatement of the academic ease policy which was lifted when the National Capital Region was placed under Alert Level 1.

The lifting of the policy signified the return of attendance, recitations, and giving of failing grades.

The students said that the lifting of the policy was counter-productive.

“The alliance challenges the PUP administration to reassess this inhumane amendment to academic easing and give more space to discuss the implementation of Ligtas na Balik Eskwela,” the Rise for Education – PUP said in a statement.

The students added that while Covid19 cases are down, it does not mean that their financial situation have changed.

They said that coping will be harder because they will be forced to spend more money to attend synchronous classes.

Student leaders lamented that no consultations were made before the revocation of the policy.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines asked the university to heed the needs of its students.

Kabataan Party-list 1st nominee Raoul Manuel also called on the administration to prioritize the resumption of face-to-face classes.

“Dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ang kalidad ng pagkatuto at ang plano para sa ligtas at agarang pagbubukas ng kampus, hindi ang pagpiga ng patong-patong na requirements sa mga estudyante,” Manuel said in a report by The Catalyst, the official student publication of PUP.