01 March 2021 | OLFU RISE Tower, Valenzuela City
The bright morning of March 1st was met with an outpouring of enthusiasm and eagerness from the graduating students of the College of Medicine of Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU), as they converged on campus with equally-joyful professors and support staff for the momentous Day 1 of limited face-to-face classes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the very first universities to receive a Certificate of Authority from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to go face-to-face, OLFU welcomed the pioneering batch of approximately 100 Medicine students while adhering to social distancing, health and hygiene protocols. To regulate interactions, the batch is divided into four smaller groups that carefully follow a well-orchestrated class schedule.
The groups take their classes in Pediatrics, Obstetrics-Gynecology, Medicine, and Surgery at the Research, Innovation, Science, and Enterprise (RISE) Tower, and the College of Medicine building, Valenzuela Campus. Hospital rotations are likewise part of the students’ itinerary.
Prior to opening its doors to face-to-face classes once again, OLFU ensured that health and safety measures are laid out and strictly enforced. The necessary pre-boarding activities were conducted for the students, who also underwent health assessments and RT-PCR swab tests, and were given a set of personal protective equipment.
The resumption of face-to-face classes is not just a triumphant milestone for the OLFU community but sets the tone also for the entire Philippine education sector. The University is optimistic that soon, with combined efforts and cooperation, face-to-face classes will safely operate on a much wider scale.
