SENATOR Joel Villanueva on Friday expressed support to the government’s decision to gradually reopen colleges for face-to-face classes.

Some schools with medical courses located in areas with low Covid risk have been allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes.

“For as long as it is safe, limited, and complies with health protocols, I see no problem in the joint decision of CHED and DOH to slowly resume classroom learning,” Villanueva said, referring to the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Health.

“And it is good that this will be piloted in the hospital setting because the people there will be the first to insist that  measures be strictly followed to keep this mode of instruction safe for all,” he added.

He agreed that some skills need to be learned hand-on and in person. Medical schools should be trusted to create a learning environment where one can acquire knowledge without getting the virus in the process, the senator added.

“But face-to-face instruction should not be at the expense of the student’s health and wellbeing. I think that is the number one rule that cannot be compromised as we inch back to conventional classes,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher and Technical Education pointed out.

If the experiment in medical schools will prove to be a success, face-to-face classes can also be conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Villanueva said.

“Mas mabuti po siguro na may isang hiwalay na memorandum sa pagitan ng DOH at TESDA kung papaano sisimulan ang face-to-face tech-voc classes. Hindi ka naman po puwedeng matutong manahi, mag-welding, mag-operate ng heavy equipment sa kapapanood lamang ng YouTube, ” he pointed out.

Villanueva issued his reminders in reaction to the signing by CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III of joint circular outlining the process for higher education institutions intending to hold limited face-to-face classes during the pandemic.