Liceo is set to close its college freshmen enrollment on August 14, 2020 as its enrollment roster has ballooned to 1, 590 as of August 4, 2020.
Of this total, 638 are first year students spread across BSEd (Major in English, Math and Filipino), BEEd, BS Criminology, and the popular latest offering, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Security Management (BSISM).
The decision to close the enrollment process was prompted by fears that the enrollees might exceed school capacity or there might be no college classes at all until January 2021. Secondly, that there might be a major turn-around and a version of regular classes will be allowed and which will leave the school in a lurch if enrollment is allowed to continue.
“No one is truly certain of how the Covid -19 crisis will end up management-wise,” opined one school official, “but we will have to prepare a solution for every possible scenario.”
What is certain is that the school has opted for what can be best described as an asynchronous – alternative learning – modular approach. “This will just call for once-a-week distanced classes where the modules will be distributed and explained to students,” said BS Criminology dean Ma. Carmina M. Cantonjos who submitted a 3-page Learning Continuity Plan proposal to the school’s management committee for perusal.
“For connectivity, these classes will be formed in chat groups using messenger or Facebook,” added Cantonjos, who also oversees the fledgling BSISM program now on its second level accreditation.
The school though feels sanguine that it stands on firm ground regarding CHED permission despite the recent loss of Masbate’s Covid-free status.
“The transmissions were not local but through the Balik Probinsya Program and unchecked Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs),” pointed out LSJF Inc. head Dr. Penelope B. Bagobe.
Thus far, Monreal, San Jacinto, and San Fernando in Ticao Island have remained Covid- free, while Batuan’s returnees have been successfully isolated from the mainstream population.
As of presstime, the returnee programs have been suspended with recently returned individuals put under strict quarantine protocols.
— Ike Arevalo