SEVERAL student organizations in Baguio City called for the suspension of classes to give time to those affected by Super Typhoon Karding to recover.

In a letter to Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the National Union of Students in the Philippines Cordillera, along with Baguio City’s universities’ student council leaders, said that some students are still without power, or have damaged homes while some were in evacuation centers.

“In an effort to leave no students behind, we are writing as a consolidated counsel of student leaders in Baguio City to request for a city-wide suspension of classes in the tertiary levels in all modes of learning, both online and face-to-face, synchronous and asynchronous, from September 27 to 30. Academic submissions and deadlines from this time period should also be suspended,” the students said.

“This will give ample time to both the students and the university personnel to recover from the damage brought by Typhoon Karding and for the university administration to assess the facilities of our schools for damages, if any, to ensure the safety of students for the resumption of classes,” they added.

The Adamson University Student Government also asked for “compassion and consideration” of the student’s welfare by suspending online and in-person classes on Tuesday, September 27.

“There are reports and accounts that students from Adamson University in the provinces close to Metro Manila are going through the aftermath and destruction caused by the Super Typhoon Karding,” ADSUG wrote in a letter addressed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

“Some nearby provinces in Luzon are currently experiencing flooding, which may make it challenging for students to travel university,” it added.

If suspension of classes is not a viable option, the student body recommended postponing the submission of deadlines until next week; eliminating graded class attendance; requiring instructors to record courses for students who are unable to attend; and allowing students affected by the typhoon to take their preliminary exam on a later date.

Moreover, the National University Student Government requested the postponement of the midterm examinations and submission of deadlines.

Classes to resume

According to NUSP Cordillera, acting Baguio City Mayor Faustino Olowan rejected the request for a city-wide suspension of classes, saying there was “no basis” for the request.

Adamson University VPPAA Dr. Dr. Catherine Castañeda similarly turned down the appeal for class suspension.

Castañeda said that she will ask the deans and chairpersons of each department to evaluate the needs of their students and take appropriate action.