DESPITE the risks, students enrolled in allied health services courses still prefer face-to-face classes.

In an interview with The POST, students said holding physical classes is still the best way when discussing crucial topics.

Laboratory classes are also different when conducted in school as students can better focus and can access medical equipment similar to those they will use once they land jobs.

According to 4th year nursing student Raven Kyla Labrador from the Our Lady of Fatima-Novaliches, commuting is a hassle but it is a worthy trade-off as she can learn more inside the classroom.

“Of course, iba ang learning [thru face-to-face in comparison] from online class. May advantage ang online class kasi bawas sa hassle ang pagko-commute and sa time na mako-consume [doon] but I prefer face-to-face classes,” Labrador said.

“May mga lessons kasi na hindi puwede gawin sa loob lalo na may mga equipment na needed for certain procedures. And iba ang focus sa school unlike sa bahay, since hindi naman lahat ng bahay ready for online class,” she added.

She admitted being relieved that they are going back to face-to-face classes.

Meanwhile, 4th year nursing student Xyrill Jimenez of the Unibersidad de Manila said she has no choice but to go with face-to-face learning as her education must continue.

“‘Di dapat ako mag-f2f kasi parang unsafe pa pero walang choice kasi mapag-iiwanan naman din naman sa lectures,” Jimenez said.

Both Jimenez and Labrador said that minimum health standards are being observed while they are inside the campus.

This includes checking temperature, regular sanitation and physical distancing.

While some students are eager to return to the classroom, some are still weighing the cost of returning to school while the pandemic lingers.

Students who will be part of the face-to-face expansion in January are excited but at the same time worried about the cost of going to school as they will be required to undergo antigen testing on a weekly basis.

George Abayari, a 4th year nursing student from the National University, said that a lot of adjustments will have to be made.

“Nakaka-excite at nag-aalala dahil paniguradong maraming gastos. Kami ay required na magpa-antigen test sa bawat week na kami ay may face-to-face, at hindi lang ‘yun nire-require din kami na magsuot ng personal protective equipment,” Abayari said.

“Ang mga adjusments na kailangan kong gawin ay ang paggising nang maaga at pagbabago ng transportasyon dahil na lamang sa mga pagbabago dahil sa Covid19. Kailangan ko rin na maging mas focused sa klase dahil nasanay na ako na mag-spend ng oras sa bahay habang nagkaklase maraming ginagawa at inaatupag na ibang bagay,” he added.

Meanwhile, 4th year Biology student Erika Valdez of Our Lady of Fatima Valenzuela has reservations.

She said that she needs to get used to commuting again.

“Hindi pa kami ini-inform about that, if magkano and kung puwede bang sa labas ng school magpa-test. Balita kasi namin sa ibang nag-f2f na ayaw ng school na sa labas pa magpa-test mga students eh 3k daw ‘yung PCR test sa OLFU. So ayun, sana lang din nasasabihan na kami about stuff para makapag-prepare din,” Valdez said.

“But also knowing na hindi pa rin talaga safe, medyo nakakatakot pa rin talaga,” she added.

The Commission on Higher Education said that schools hoping to conduct face-to-face classes must have a high vaccination rate, retrofitted classrooms, and approval from the concerned local government unit.

The Inter-Agency Task Force Against Covid19 has allowed the conduct of physical classes in areas under Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3.