PLM to open first semester of A.Y. 2020-2021 on Sept. 3

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila will officially kick off the first semester of its Academic Year 2020-2021 on September 3, the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs announced Tuesday.

In a statement, PLM said adjustments were already made in the university calendar that was approved by the Board of Regents last June 15.

Additional time has also been given to allow students, faculty members and the PLM administration to prepare for the shift to flexible learning strategies under the “new normal” amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the school added.

The confirmation of slots for freshmen students is also ongoing ahead of the registration period between August 3 until September 2, while further guidelines on the enrollment, including examinations and interviews for graduate programs, will be announced by respective college deans.

Moreover, PLM said undergraduate students are exempted from paying tuition pursuant to Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“For graduate programs and paying students, university president Emmanuel Leyco said the administration is exploring how they can provide a longer payment period or even a tuition fee reduction in recognition of the financial hardships which students and their families face amid the pandemic,” it said.

There will also be no tuition fee increase for the upcoming school year, according to Leyco.

Classes for the first semester will end on January 9, 2021, followed by the period of final examinations from January 11 to 16.

The second semester, meanwhile, will begin on February 1, 2021 until June 5, 2021, the last day for final exams. A midyear term will also be open starting July 1, 2021 until August 14, 2021.

Leyco earlier announced that classes in all levels during the upcoming semester will be held online, but PLM will also tap other channels to accommodate students who do not have access to virtual learning.

“PLM acknowledges the digital divide as gadgets and stable internet may not be available to all. The university is also retrofitting its facilities, retraining the faculty, and reprioritizing its annual budget to cater to these changes,” it said.

The Philippines has recorded a total of 46,333 cases of COVID-19 as of Monday, including 12,185 recoveries and 1,303 fatalities. --Ma. Angelica Garcia/KBK, GMA News