De La Salle students call for 2-week academic break, 'No Fail Policy'

Student councils across the De La Salle System are calling for a two-week academic break following recent successive typhoons that pummeled the country.

One La Salle for Human Rights and Democracy -- an alliance of organizations across the system that aims to voice out its stand on national issues -- in a statement called for the break for students, professors, and school employees as they had a right to recover amid "devastating crises."

"This calls for a two-week suspension of both synchronous and asynchronous classes with no graded requirements and the postponement of university activities, especially the collection of tuition and other fees," the statement read.

"Herewith, professors and school employees must not be deprived of their salaries and wages amidst the proposed academic break," it added.

The group also called on the administration of the De La Salle University-Manila to postpone the online undergraduate pre-enlistment scheduled starting Monday, November 16, until Friday, November 20.

The alliance likewise proposed that the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) implement a nationwide "No Fail Policy" to alleviate the burden of the students.

"Aside from this, we urge the national government to immediately implement mass testing nationwide, which has been put off by the administration amidst the uncountable calls of the people," it said.

The statement comes after a series of typhoons hit the Philippines, the latest of which Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) claimed at least 67 lives and leaving over P1 billion in damages.

The typhoon exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday morning, but heavy rains and the release of water from the Magat Dam and other reservoirs brought about massive flooding in Cagayan and Isabela.

A week before, Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni), reported as the strongest storm of 2020 so far, hit several parts of the country leaving over P8 billion in damage.

Students from the Ateneo de Manila University meanwhile, have called for a mass student strike to protest the government's "criminally neglectful response" to the devastation caused by the typhoons.

In response, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Sunday claimed such students will fail and not be able to graduate if they do not follow academic requirements.

Both the Ateneo de Manila University and the De La Salle University earlier said they will both ease their academic workloads for a week due to Ulysses. — DVM, GMA News