Tarlac State University has started its limited face-to-face classes (LF2F) for the BS Nursing program of the College of Science (COS) on Wednesday (March 16, 2022) at the Lucinda Campus two years after the Luzon-wide lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The college has allowed in-person classes for laboratory classes and demonstration sessions with only 14 students in a room.
Third year Nursing students attended their limited face-to-face classes yesterday at the Lucinda Campus where they performed ostomy care demonstrations and perioperative procedures that include ward admission and recovery at the Medical Clinic.
TSU President Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari, along with Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Erwin P. Lacanlale and COS Dean Prof. Mary Jane N. Rigor, personally visited the students during their first day.
“Itong face-to-face classes [ay] kailangan ninyo lalo na sa mga demonstrations ninyo dahil alam namin na dapat prepared at ready kayo bago sumabak sa trabaho. At kapag nasa hospital na, kailangan kumpleto at buo lahat ng skills na matututunan ninyo,” Pres. Mallari said to the Nursing students.
Pres. Mallari also advised the students to observe health protocols and stay in their designated rooms to avoid the possible spread of the virus.
Ms. Jessette Perez, full-time clinical instructor, said that this is the students’ first time to hold mannequins and perform proper procedures because during flexible learning classes, students can only practice with their stuffed toys without the proper laboratory equipment and medical tools.
“Ang challenging part doon ay you cannot build rapport and trust [with] your students because virtual – walang [proper] communication. Unlike kapag face-to-face, you see your students and you can teach them properly and correctly the different procedures,” Perez said in an interview.
Like Mariel Constante, 21-year-old Nursing student, other students also hope for the continued face-to-face classes after these demonstrations.
“Iyong mga concepts po na itinuro, magagawa na po namin kasi may mga gamit na po kami kaysa kapag nasa bahay lang kami na laging nag-iimprovise ng mga magagamit. Pero yung iba po, hindi po naiintindihan kasi mahirap pong makita sa screen kung ano po yung mga ginagawa katulad po nung sa pagpapaanak po, hindi gaanong malinaw kapag ipapakita po nung professor ‘yong kung saan i-inject yung oxcytocin, so sa part po na ‘yon ako nahihirapan at namali po ako,” Constante said.
Constante said the pandemic pushed her to further study the course when she saw frontliners being recognized as heroes on television and in the news.
“Nare-recognize na po ‘yong mga nurses pati po ‘yong mga hirap po ng trabaho nila. Natataasan na rin po ‘yong sahod nila kasi nga po na-recognize na po yung hirap at pagsasakripisyo ng mga frontliners,” the student added.
Another lecturer from the college, Ms. Czarina Maninang, who took part in the pilot run of onsite classes, shared the disadvantages of online classes to Nursing students.
“Siyempre kapag online, hindi mo lahat matuturo sa mga students lalong-lalo na sa mga skills na kailangan nilang matutunan. Sila sa bahay nila, wala silang ganitong set up; ‘yong mga instruments wala sila, so ang benefit na magka-face-to-face ulit ay magkakaroon sila ng hands-on experience doon sa mga skills na kailangan nila,” Maninang said in an interview.
Aside from limited face-to-face classes, the college will also conduct in-person midterm examinations this March.
Furthermore, laboratory courses for the College of Engineering and Technology are planned to reopen soon.
The university has also submitted its Self-Assessment Checklist on the Readiness of Higher Education Institutions to Reopen Campuses for Limited Face-to-Face Classes to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) following CHED-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-004.
Meanwhile, the TSU School of Law also started their limited face-to-face classes last week. SOL is under the Legal Education Board and no longer needs CHED approval to conduct limited in-person classes.
