SIX medical colleges in Central Visayas were authorized by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to conduct limited face-to-face clerkship or hospital-based internship for its senior medical students amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
As of May 20, 2021, Ched has already given authority to Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU) College of Medicine, Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma, University of Cebu (UC) School of Medicine, University of the Visayas (UV)-Gullas College of Medicine in Cebu and the Silliman University in Dumaguete City.
This was confirmed by Jogi Rivamonte, Ched 7 coordinator on health-related profession programs.
Of the six medical colleges, Silliman University was also given a permit from Ched to conduct face-to-face laboratory classes for its nursing and physical therapy programs.
Foundation University in Dumaguete City, which offers a nursing program, was also issued a permit to conduct face-to-face laboratory classes.
The permits issued to the colleges will be valid for two semesters upon approval of their application, Rivamonte said.
Though limited face-to-face classes among medical schools is voluntary, Rivamonte said these colleges must adhere to the required minimum public health standards set by the Department of Health.
These include allowing students, faculty and staff to undergo flexible work and study arrangements.
Students will also be allowed to be placed in groupings or shiftings when attending their classes.
Each higher education instituion (HEI) must also ensure that students, faculty and staff properly and regularly wear masks and face shields inside the campus.
The HEI must also ensure that appropriate case detection, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation measures are in place before it resumes face-to-face classes.
The conduct of extracurricular activities is not allowed yet.
Meanwhile, Ched Chairperson Prospero de Vera III led the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) ceremonial distribution to TES grantees held at the Cebu Normal University on Saturday, May 22.
For the first semester of academic year 2020-2021, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UniFAST) 7 has already disbursed more than P1 billion under the free higher education (FHE) and TES Program to 126,664 grantees.
UniFAST 7 has already disbursed P824.8 million to 116,548 grantees of the FHE in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs), and has allocated P734 million set for payment to 33,656 TES grantees enrolled in private HEIs in the region.
TES is a grant-in-aid program of Ched for eligible students.
Through the program, student-beneficiaries enrolled in private schools receive a P60,000 grant while those enrolled in state and local universities and colleges receive a P40,000 subsidy.
Aside from this, an additional benefit of P30,000 is given to TES grantees who have physical disabilities, and there is a P10,000 one-time reimbursement for scholars who will be taking their licensure exams after they graduate.
The ceremonial distribution was physically participated in by about 45 student-beneficiaries and focal persons from Cebu Normal University and Cebu Technological University-Main Campus.
The distribution was part of the Ched’s week-long celebration of its 27th founding anniversary and first National Higher Education Day from May 17 to 24. (WBS)