The College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM) will welcome students back on campus for the first time amid the Covid-19 pandemic starting April 18, 2022.
Assoc. Prof. Gezzez Granado, CTHM dean, told the Varsitarian that four laboratory courses would be included in the limited face-to-face (F2F) classes, namely advanced baking and cake decoration, pastry arts, international cuisine and in-house practicum.
Granado said 240 culinary entrepreneurship students (120 sophomores and 120 juniors) would join the F2F classes. Senior hospitality leadership students with audit classes will also participate in the engagements.
The classes will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions and will accommodate only 20 students per session.
Before announcing the limited F2F classes, the college conducted town hall meetings with students and their parents to discuss the in-person engagements and get feedback.
CTHM Student Council President Gershei Quirao said college administrators had constantly been consulting students, parents and other stakeholders on F2F classes through town hall meetings before it made its decision.
CTHM sophomore Sophia Gaza said students were “regularly” checked on regarding their health status and conditions and updated by their professors regarding the resumption plans.
Quirao said restarting F2F classes was a good option considering Metro Manila’s Alert Level 1 and the difficulties in the online setup.
“I believe that as long as all the protocols and strict implementation and observance of the safety guidelines are followed, it is already a right decision to go back,” Quirao told the Varsitarian.
The Office of the Secretary General, in a memorandum on March 1, reiterated that only fully vaccinated students or those “at least two weeks past receiving the second dose of two-dose vaccine or first dose of a single-dose vaccine” can join F2F classes. Booster shots were also “strongly encouraged” for added protection and anticipation of future health protocols.
Students who have traveled internationally and locally outside Metro Manila are required to undergo a seven-day quarantine.
Other health protocols, such as wearing masks and physical distancing, remain in place. Justin Benedict T. Lim
