With the 68th Foundation Day and preparation for face to face classes at its plate, University of Antique of Antique(UA) held a press conference with the government and private media organizations in the province in line with the upcoming in-person classes and the Sipal eskUelA on Wednesday, January 19 at the HRM Function Hall.

University President Dr. Pablo S. Crespo Jr. discussed with the press the systems and policies of the institution in implementing the face to face classes in the whole UA system that will start on February 14 following its presentation to the Local Inter-Agency Task Force(IATF) Tuesday, January 18 of its readiness plan.
According to Dr. Crespo, the university put up an isolation area in case faculty and staff showed symptoms of COVID-19 within the premises.

It was also planned to reduce the number of students in the class from the regular 40-50 students per classroom to only 15 -20 students in a teaching space with dividers and except in some laboratories that will allow only five students inside because of the nature of the courses and had the classrooms re-arranged like the removal of window curtains to allow airflow in the spaces.

He also stated that in the case of UA-Main Campus with eight colleges and department, four colleges will have their students report to the school once or twice a week while the other four engage with synchronous classes, a scheme that will be executed alternately.

 

Moreover, only vaccinated students could report for face to face classes while the unvaccinated learners and faculty members who are still waiting for medical clearances for vaccination will teach from their homes online and will only be substituted by vaccinated teachers if their courses require laboratory sessions yet the university encouraged students to get vaccinated nevertheless.

While Dr. Crespo pointed out that the fare prices are beyond the control of the university, he stated that the institution will meet with the boarding house owners regarding the measures in ensuring the safety of the students and their rent fees.

The university president further discussed about the launching of Sipal eskUelA that took place few hours prior the press conference, which is a project grant of the Commission on Higher Education(CHED) the to the state universities and colleges(SUCs) to promote edutourism in the country that will encourage foreign students to take short-term programs in the SUCs including UA.

He bared the plans of the university in the implementation of Sipal eskUelA from sports summit, exhibitions, and standardizing established sports of the project to highlight local sports that will promote tourist spots of the province through ecotourism and eyed its enforcement by May.

On the other hand, Vice President for Academic Affairs(VPAA) Dr. Jelyn O. Alentajan added that in the implementation of face to face classes, discipline in adhering to the health protocols will be emphasized to safeguard the students, faculty, and staff while inside the premises by including the control of vehicular and foot traffics and coordinate with boarding houses to apply schemes that agrees with the IATF guidelines.

The university is also planning to interact with the students online prior the opening of face to face classes next month.