UP to start 100% face-to-face classes in the second semester of 2023

Over two years into the pandemic, University of the Philippines (UP) is opening its doors to 100% face-to-face classes for all undergraduate courses.  

On September 29, UP announced its return to full face-to-face classes in the current academic year, 2022-2023, for all its undergraduate courses in the second semester.  

"This is complementary to the university's adoption of hybrid and blended learning to equip students for the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and achieve educational resilience in a volatile and rapidly changing world," UP stated.  

Prior to the announcement, UP was already holding face-to-face classes in the first semester of the current academic year for the studio, laboratory, practicum courses, and more at 100%. One of its constituent universities, UP Manila, already began holding full face-to-face classes for all public health courses as early as July 2021.  

"Details regarding implementing face-to-face classes in all courses and the learning delivery mode in the graduate programs are currently being finalized," UP said.  

This announcement did not come as a surprise, as Senator Pia Cayetano called out universities and state colleges, including UP, last Tuesday that she would not support the budget proposal of those schools that have yet to have 100% face-to-face classes.  

Several state universities and colleges are facing budget cutbacks next year, with the plan for UP to reduce its present allocation by P2.5 billion. Cayetano warned UP that it must hold face-to-face classes if they want to secure its budget for next year.  

UP will also hold its on-site college entrance exam for academic year 2024-2025 in 2023.