THE NATIONAL Union of Students of the Philippines expressed concern on the holding of limited face-to-face classes for medical courses in areas with low Covid risk, saying the government must first lay down a plan to protect students.

Jandeil Roperos, the group’s national president, said that CHED must first formulate “proactive health plans” before permitting students to resume in-person classes.

She stressed that students must have proper and sufficient protection.

“We have been clamoring for the safe resumption of classes, this is only feasible if the government presents a comprehensive medical solution to flatten the curve and to reduce the viral transmission,” Roperos said.

“They must strictly implement minimum health standards in school, increase the budget for education to fund new school infrastructures such as spacious classrooms and health facilities,” she added.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Commission on Higher Education to resume limited physical classes for medical schools and allied health science programs.

CHED said the move will ensure that the country will have enough doctors as it continues to battle the Covid19 pandemic.

The government previously allowed the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital to resume its clinical internship program.

Roperos pointed out that free mass testing and free mass vaccination must be readily available on every campus if face-to-face classes are to push through.

She also emphasized that more teachers and healthcare personnel must be hired to minimize the teacher-student ratio and to ensure that health protocols and standards are implemented.

“NUSP is firm in its stand that a comprehensive medical approach to the pandemic will ultimately pave the way towards the safe reopening of physical classes,” she said.