The Manila city government has approved the Centro Escolar University’s proposal to hold limited face-to-face classes for graduating dentistry students.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso gave the go signal for in-person classes following a meeting with CEU officials, the city’s public information office said.
CEU officials told Domagoso that their students’ graduation has been delayed by a year “due to lack of practicum as a result of quarantine restrictions imposed by the government” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, Domagoso said a continued ban on in-person classes would cause “stagnation,” adding that there was a need for more graduates from health programs.
“We won’t achieve anything if we stagnate,” he said.
Domagoso said CEU students can avail of free COVID-19 swab tests from the local government should the learners feel the need to get tested.
CEU now needs to comply with the requirements set by the Commission on Higher Education and Inter-Agency Task Force before it can start holding limited face-to-face classes.
Last month, Malacañang announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved face-to-face classes for some medical courses in areas with the lowest quarantine levels to ensure the country would have enough health frontliners.
Earlier, the Manila city government approved the University of Santo Tomas’ proposal for limited in-person classes for its medical and allied health programs.