CHED: School Opening Is On June 15

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Angeles announced this weekend the rescheduled school opening for colleges and universities from June 8 to June 15. The primary reason is the possible spread of A(H1N1) virus to students in colleges and universities in the Philippines. It is reportedly moved the official school opening so the exchange students from other countries and students who travelled abroad to have enough time to quarantine themselves at home.

The decision was made after De La Salle University reported 3 of its students, including two Japanese exchange students, have been infected with the dreaded virus. Classes were suspended from June 3 to 14. A wake up call for other universities to change their school opening including. Far Eastern University (FEU), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Saint Paul University-Manila, University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), the University of the Philippines-Manila (UP) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) already announced the changes in school opening last week before CHED officially made the announcement.

Since the summer vacation is officially extended for colleges and universities, I hope exchange students and those who just arrived from other countries will really quarantine themselves. Huwag na sana magpasaway pa. Do we have “somebody” who will monitor these students? DOH, CHED or the university administration? I think these students are mature enough to be responsible to avoid the spread of the virus.

A friend of mine in Texas called me up to greet me yesterday (it was my birthday two days ago..) and we happen to talked about the virus. I informed her that De La Salle already have 3 A(H1N1) students and classes were already suspended. She said something like this… “Yung mga taga DLSU, may pera ang karamihan ng mga students. Mabuti kung may mga pera ang magkaroon ng virus, paano yung mga nahawaan na wala naman pangpahospital o pangpagamot?”

Another wake up call?

DOH is currently tracing 120 students who had contact with 3 DLSU students. As of June 5, there are 33 A(H1N1) patients in the Philippines. tsk.