MANILA, Philippines — Several universities have suspended the holding of classes for at least a week following the destruction brought by Typhoon Ulysses.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Sunday announced that it would be suspending synchronous and asynchronous classes from Nov. 16 to 21, 2020 “in light of the recent calamities.”
“We highly encourage you, our dear students, to use these days for independent study, research, prayer, and to support relief efforts and calamity initiatives through Simbahayan, your own communities, Church, faith based-groups and local government units,” UST said.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) also announced an “academic break” on all year levels from Nov. 16 to 27, 2020 to “allow students and faculty members to recover from the impact” of the typhoon.
ADVISORY 42 S 2020
To allow students and faculty members to recover from the impact of Typhoon #UlyssesPH, PUP will be taking an academic break on ALL YEAR LEVELS in the MAIN CAMPUS, and ALL BRANCHES AND SATELLITE CAMPUSES, from November 16 to 27, 2020. (1/3) #WalangPasok
— PUP (Official) (@ThePUPOfficial) November 15, 2020
The Ateneo de Manila University also announced class suspensions due to the continuing effects of the typhoon on communities.
“The last two days of class and work suspension have provided time for people to get some of their bearings back. However, the rehabilitation process in a lot of localities is still far from finished,” read a memorandum issued by Dr. Maria Luz Viches, Vice President for the Loyola Schools.
“Water has not subsided in severely flooded areas. Power has not been restored in lots of places. Internet connectivity in many neighborhoods continues to be either spotty or nil. Anxiety level is also high because the Second Quarter had not even fully taken off and all these environmental calamities just came crashing in,” it added.
In this regard, all synchronous and asynchronous classes and activities will be suspended from Nov. 16 to 21 “to give more time for both students and faculty to recover from the aftermath of all kinds of disasters around us.”
Asynchronous activities will resume on November 23 but synchronous classes or activities will remain suspended until Nov. 28, according to the memo.
Pasig City
Meanwhile, the Pasig City government declared the continued suspension of classes from preschool to senior high school (both public and private) from Nov. 16 to 17.
“Clearing operations continue in all barangays. MERALCO is also in the process of restoring electricity throughout the city,” it said on Facebook.
“Those who are able to continue with their asynchronous classes and modules are encouraged to do so,” it added.
Quezon City also suspended synchronous (online) classes from kinder to senior high school in public schools in the city from Nov. 16 to 17.
Other modes of learning, such as asynchronous or printed modular, will still continue, according to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
“Maximum leniency shall be extended to all students in light of the damages brought about by the typhoon,” she said.
Private schools “have the power” to suspend classes upon their discretion as per the advisory earlier issued by the Department of Education in the National Capital Region NCR, Belmonte added.