A (H1N1) threat hangs over college class opening
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/15/2009 12:00 AM
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MANILA - The threat of the spread of influenza A (H1N1) will confront more than two million college-level students across the country as they finally go back to school Monday, a week after the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) postponed the opening of the school year as a measure to prevent the spread of the much-feared illness.
CHEd reiterated that school officials should prevent students suffering from flu symptoms and other mild ilnesses, like coughs and colds, from going to school as a preventive measure.
CHEd chair Emmanuel Angeles said that those students who will be affected by this directive won't miss lessons. He said they would be given assignments and take-home quizzes.
Many colleges and universities also have their own anti-A (H1N1) measures.
In Saint Scholastica's College (SSC) in Manila, all people entering the campus undergo temperature checks to detect fevers. All students, faculty and staff in the school are required to have their body temperatures checked at least once a day for the whole first week of classes.
Dr. Madeleine Buraga, SSC-Manila Medical Services head, said anyone who is detected to have a fever and has a history of travel to A (H1N1)-affected areas will be rushed to the hospital.
SSC-Manila President Sr. Angelica Leviste said that despite the high costs of their preventive measures, it would be worth it.
Meanwhile, in Saint Paul University, alcohol and hand sanitizers will be given away for free, and doctors will check students on the first day of classes.
Despite all these, students told ABS-CBN News that they are still excited to go back to school.
They also said that they are confident that their schools are doing their best to help prevent the spread of the disease.
Weather, finances also reason for move
Classes in the college level were supposed to start last June 8, a week after elementary and high school students went back to school, but was moved by the CHEd through a memorandum released June 6.
"May directive si Chairman [Emmanuel] Angeles in a memo postponing the opening [of classes] in college level from June 8 to June 15 (Chairman Emmanuel Angeles has a directive postponing the opening of classes in college level from June 8 to June 15)," Julito Vitriolo, deputy executive director of CHED, said last June 6.
Vitriolo said the influenza A(H1N1) virus is the main reason for the CHED's deferment of opening of classes. He said the department wants to give students, who have travelled abroad, enough time for voluntary self-quarantine.
"At the same time, it could help institutions who have foreign students to prepare," the CHED official said.
He said the other reasons for the opening's deferment were the inclement weather and to give consideration to parents who have financial difficulties.
"The situation in the country right now, it's flooding, [which is] not conducive to students and the schools. So that schools can better prepare," he said. "Parents will [also] be able to get more resources for funding." With a report from Jenny Reyes, ABS-CBN News
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