For weeks, I refused to comment on the issue since I have not heard all the angles of the story. I tried to reserve my comments until the Medicine Student Council (MSC) or the USTFMS administration releases an official statement. But alas! Until now, I haven’t heard of a formal explanation that would allow me to comment using thorough information. The MSC, which had the primary responsibility of informing the students, have devolved the functions to the class officers. I have talked to an officer of the MSC and he said that this was done so that the class officers can address the queries/comments instantaneously. While he raised a valid point, I do believe that the MSC should have still released an official statement to (1) keep the students informed, (2) eliminate variability in the information disseminated, and (3) encourage active participation of the students in the discussion. I would appreciate it if the MSC informed the students of the steps that are being undertaken to address the issue and the progress of the “student consultation”. As of this moment, an MSC officer informed me that a “resolution” was already submitted to the Office of the Dean to follow the original schedule.
I also do not understand why some students encourage others not to comment on the issue for the reason that its implementation still not confirmed. But when will be the right time for students to react on the issue? When everything is final and executory? When the students have no chance of their opinions being heard? There is a clear difference between spreading unverified rumors and spreading a spark of awareness on the issue, and on this case, the issue is already being discussed and the only thing missing is the final decision. People are yearning for an explanation so that they could understand the issue. Suppressing students’ opinion on social media hinders awareness and possible collective action from students.
From what I have been hearing, the academic calendar is being reverted so that the junior interns can still apply for senior internship slots in hospitals of which application period does not coincide well with UST’s current academic school year. This is an understandable point but I say this issue could have been a preventable one. This was a lack of foresight from the administration. An academic calendar was released at the start of the academic year but why is the issue only being discussed now? If the admin already saw that there will be issues with the academic calendar shift, they should have not followed it in the first place.
The issue apparently raises some issues to students since a number of students have already booked local and international flights after the last day of classes. Students will either resort to rescheduling flights (would be very costly) or cancel the whole trip altogether. There had been some stories that the administration is considering a “No quiz policy” solution to give way for those with flights. But this is far from a solution! Neither would it be pro-student. The student will still be the one to miss classroom activities and later on suffer from quizzes once they get back because of those missed lectures. For sure, the quality education that they are due will be compromised. Talo parin ang estudyante.
Another issue, which may not be a concern of the majority, would be the enrollment itself. Considering that the students have just paid matriculation for the finals, is it compassionate for parents to enroll their child for the second semester and shell out another hundred thousand pesos at this time of the year? I have heard that there is a compromise that even though classes will start by November 24, enrollment would still follow the same schedule which is on December 4. However, this still shortens the time for students to enroll since they have to be enrolled by December 4 since classes are already ongoing. I hope they extend the enrollment period until the supposed 1st day of classes, which is on January 5.
I pray that the UST Medicine students act collectively so that our opinion may be considered, for MSC to continue to live up to the title student representatives who would lobby the rights of the students, and for the administration to work out a solution that would benefit all.
