DAWN DECEMBER - ISSUE 2, VOLUME 74
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST
University of the East– Dentistry building
CDENT DEAN: SOME STUDENTS STILL AFRAID OF F2F CLASSES
By Karen Louise C. Delos Angeles & Marie Gold Vivien M. Totanes by the Commission on Higher to ensure a safe reopening of Amid the reopening of the College of Dentistry (CDent) to limited Education (CHED), the on-campus classes. in-person classes, Dean Rhodora Luciano bared that some students Department of Health (DOH), “What we can do in the student remain hesitant to go back to the traditional learning setup. This was after the University transition, citing that students and the Inter-Agency Task council is to keep reminding of the East (UE) reopened the want to “stay at home.” Force (IATF). our students to observe safety face-to-face Clinical Dentistry “Some are very excited to go In addition, the University measures and protocols classes for graduating students back to face-to-face classes and also implemented a new set provided by our College inside for the first semester of the A.Y. clinics and eager to learn more of policies to be imposed the building and encourage 2021-2022. with regards to clinical training, on campus, which are in them to get vaccinated,” Dela In an interview with the but of course some are still accordance with the current Torre said. DAWN, Luciano said that afraid and would like to play health guidelines. The DSC president also stated students were excited to return safe and stay at home,” Luciano Likewise, Dentistry Student that due to the University’s to in-person classes. underscored. Council (DSC) President Patrick free vaccination program, it The CDent dean, however, To ensure students’ safety, Lawrence Dela Torre reiterated is projected that the majority stressed that some are still the dean shared that UE follows the importance of following the of students are now fully half-hearted with the ongoing all health protocols mandated protocols and safety measures vaccinated.
“Nagbigay naman na po ng libreng vaccination sa UERM and UE main, so we believe that almost everyone has already been fully vaccinated,“ he added. Furthermore, Dela Torre remarked that the DSC will coordinate with the CDent administration to offer all the assistance they can give. “We will also be in touch with our College’s administration to whatever assistance they might need so we can help them,” the DSC president said.
Following the reopening of institutions for face-to-face classes, University of the East (UE) is also considering a switch to in-person on-thejob training (OJT). UE students undergo virtual OJT this year due to the health restrictions brought about by the pandemic. However, Prof. Annabelle Espiritu, the UE Caloocan OJT & job placement coordinator, bared that they are now discussing the possible transition to a physical OJT setting. Espiritu told the DAWN that the University is now coordinating with its
students who are still in the province,” the DSC president claimed. In mid-November, CDent already offered Clinical Dentistry for graduating students for the first semester. Dela Torre revealed that students were not surprised by the transition from online to face-to-face classes since the college has been reminding them to be prepared. “Iba pa rin kasi ang face-toface classes lalo na sa kurso namin. Paghahanda na rin po ito ng mga graduating students namin para sa practical phase ng board exams,” he said.
UE, partner companies discuss possible shift to F2F OJT
affiliated companies. “We are currently coordinating with our partner companies [for the OJT],” Espiritu said. UE is reportedly finalizing the OJT setting that it will apply, as well as the agreement with its partner companies. “Series of meetings are held to discuss matters concerning OJT and its transition from online to face-to-face (inperson) OJT,” the coordinator added. Aside from that, the University also coordinated with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regarding its plans.
Over 40% of CDent students unsure of F2F classes
Less than half of the students surveyed in the College of Dentistry (CDent) remain undecided for the limited inperson classes next semester. University of the East (UE) President Ester Garcia disclosed that 146 students, or 42.57% of the total respondents, were unsure if they are ready to return to the traditional learning setup. Survey also shows that out of 343 respondents, only 197 students agreed with the reopening of limited face-toface classes for the second semester of the A.Y. 2021-2022. Meanwhile, CDent Student
Council (DSC) President Patrick Lawrence Dela Torre told the DAWN that the college is not requiring Dentistry students to enroll in in-person classes. “May mga estudyante pa rin kasi na nasa probinsya at hindi pa rin pinapayagan lumuwas ng Maynila para mag-aral,” he said. Dela Torre further stated that the UE administration encourages students to enroll “if we can and if we are allowed by our parents.” “So, the option to enroll [in] pure online classes will be beneficial to some of our