Medical student Andee Maglinao has been taking online classes at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for almost 14 months.
He admitted it hadn’t been easy, especially in his course.
“It was a really difficult task and the transition to what we were used to. Everything had to be done online. There were a lot of limitations with the skills we had to do,” said Maglinao.
So Maglinao is very happy that he will go back to school after the government allowed limited face-to-face classes in medical and allied health courses at some colleges and universities, including UST.
According to UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Dean Ma. Lourdes Maglinao is still ready to implement in-person classes in March, but this was thwarted when enhanced community quarantine was implemented in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
“We really have planned this for a long time already. We saw the need for our students, especially ang magiging doktor, na ma-expose sa lahat ng necessary skills on how to manage patients,” the dean said.
To ensure that physical distancing is followed, only a few students are admitted to skills areas or classrooms where their practical skills are honed.
The medicine students were also divided into groups.
Before entering the building, their temperature is taken first, and they will not be allowed in if they have not scheduled.
Limited face-to-face classes at some colleges, universities begin
Although all students and faculty members have been vaccinated against COVID-19, they still need to follow the minimum health protocols.
For the batch entering now, face-to-face classes will last until July, when another batch of future doctors will undergo physical classes.
UST also clarified that those who do not want to take face-to-face classes would not be forced.
For three weeks now, limited in-person classes have continued for more than 100 medical students of the University of the City of Manila (PLM), who are currently undergoing their medical clerkship at the Manila Hospital.
According to PLM President Emmanuel Leyco, students cannot be assigned to the emergency room or COVID-19 ward.
Leyco stressed that the study should not be stopped, especially by medicine students, for the continuous availability of additional health workers who will help fight against COVID-19 of the country.
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