Some universities implement ‘no fail policy’

Some universities in the country have implemented a "no fail policy" amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "Balitanghali" on Monday, among the universities that implemented such a policy are the De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines.

La Salle has approved a resolution to reimpose the policy from Term 2 of Academic Year 2020-2021 until further notice.

UP also said no student will be given a failing mark this semester.

"During pre-COVID, in order to merit an incomplete, a student must have a passing class standing and only a minimum of requirement not yet submitted. This time, even if you haven't submitted anything this semester, you will not fail," UP public affairs vice president Elenia Pernia said.

Pernia said students have one year to complete their requirements.

Meanwhile, the Ateneo de Manila University said it will not implement a "no fail policy" as its "structures provide ways of making students fulfill requirements that take into consideration their individual contexts."

It added that students with difficulty can request a withdrawal with permission or getting an incomplete, with the option for an extended period for completing the incomplete grade.

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines will also not implement such a policy. However, the PUP communication management office said it urged its faculty to have maximum tolerance, leniency, compassion for their students.

Earlier, the Makabayan Bloc filed resolutions urging the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to impose a moratorium on tuition fee increases and implement academic easing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through House Resolution 1722, the lawmakers called on the two agencies for a pause on the increase in tuition and other fees, saying this is already long overdue because of the skyrocketing cost of education due to policies of deregulation and commercialization. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News