A YOUTH group denounced the decision of the Commission on Higher Education to allow 24 colleges and universities to conduct face-to-face classes for health-related programs starting in the second semester of Academic Year 2020-2021.

The Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan said that CHED chief Prospero De Vera III does not prioritize the safety of the academic community amid the rising cases of coronavirus disease in the country.

“The students, teaching, and non-teaching staff are being exposed to the virus for the sake of opening up the economy. The fact that opening up the economy is the primary reason why De Vera wishes to open higher education institutions means that education isn’t really his priority,” SPARK said in a statement.

“For 10 straight days, new cases have reached over 5,000. The opening of face-to-face classes, may it be limited, can possibly contribute greatly to the number of Covid19 cases,” it added.

De Vera on Friday, March 26, approved the resumption of limited F2F classes in 24 HEIs.

The CHED chief said that these HEIs have fully complied with the guidelines and have been inspected by the commission and their local government units.

SPARK said that the budget to cover medical expenses related to Covid19 “will be most likely taken from miscellaneous fees charged to students.”

“Consequently, among the guidelines imposed by CHED-DOH with the opening of classes is the medical insurance of students. According to the said guideline, HEIs will be responsible for the expenses in the event that a student might get infected brought about by the conduct of limited face-to-face classes. This will be another added burden on the students and their family who are already suffering financial problems due to the pandemic,” the group said.

It added that it is pointless to prioritize teaching and non-teaching staff in the vaccination program if students will not be vaccinated.

The group reiterated that it supports the holding of in-person classes as several laboratory activities and experiments cannot be taken up online. However, it said that health and safety should be the topmost priority.

“Unless it is already guaranteed safe and there will be a free and mass vaccination for all, no face-to-face classes should be conducted,” SPARK said.