Filenews 25 August 2021 - by Evangelia Sizopoulou
The die was cast. Only those students and academics who hold a vaccination certificate or a certificate of coronavirus disease will enter the CUT premises during the new academic semester. Unvaccinated will not be allowed to attend face-to-face classes but remotely, as they will not be able to enter the university with a negative test result.
This is what the Senate of the CUT decided yesterday, which put on the table various proposals, regardless of what the decision of the Council of Ministers will be on September 1st. A decision that set the students of the academic institution on fire and fury, with the Avant-Garde declaring itself disappointed and with The Progressive talking about the government's generally unacceptable handling of the issue of returning students to face-to-face teaching, organizing a protest next Wednesday outside the health ministry.
As the information indicates, this decision prevailed by a large majority among the Senatorials and its main axes are the following:
>> All courses will be taught by teaching staff who hold a certificate of vaccination or illness from COVID-19.
>> All students enrol and attend their courses.
>> Students who hold a certificate of vaccination or illness from COVID-19 participate in the courses with physical presence.
>> Students who do not hold a certificate of vaccination or illness from COVID-19 will attend their classes remotely, according to arrangements detailed in the decision.
>> All final examinations will be done in person, with a safe pass, in accordance with the current decrees of the Minister of Health.
The Senate had before it three final proposals, as in addition to the one that was voted and the proposal of the vice-rector Pantelis Keliris for "broken" audiences in a capacity of 50% with the presence of all students and with SafePass, the student faction Proodeftiki submitted its own. Based on this, it was suggested to increase the capacity in the classrooms to 80% for the return of all students without financial exclusions that would come from the costly tests.
Strong student reaction
Both avant-garde and Proodeftiki, the student factions that participate in the Senate of CUT, reacted immediately to the decision.
The Avant-Garde expressed strong disappointment as the decision considers that it will deprive students of their right to education, "a right as important as that of health", as it characteristically mentions. It stresses that its position is to return to face-to-face education and universities to the maximum possible rate and to make the return gradually so that there are no inequalities and discrimination between students. It is noted that The Avant-garde supported the Keliris proposal and points out that "the obligation of students in a specific direction without alternatives, is neither the right nor the legitimate way and as proved in other cases ineffective. The decision that has been taken, we believe, does not serve the interest of the student community."
Proodeftiki, for its part, expressed dissatisfaction and generalizes the issue, describing the government's handling of the issue of the return of students to universities as unacceptable. Hence he has announced that next Wednesday, at 10:00 a.m., he will hold a protest event outside the health ministry, under the slogan "Return of all students to universities, safely and without financial exclusions"."
Regarding the CUT's decision, Proodeftiki notes that it does not satisfy it. "The university in its initial decision in the Senate dated 14/7/2021 decided that students return to the university, on the basis of the health protocols that will come into force. There is a huge reaction to the whole debate that has preceded it in relation to how to return to universities. The Ministry itself and the Government are giving second thoughts about the return of students even with rapid tests. Without any final decision being taken on the issue of the return of students to the classrooms. The university itself comes and puts a tombstone on any attempt made in this direction.
Meanwhile, the decision was also described as unacceptable by the Renaissance, which in a statement states that it is a decision of a public university, which creates inequality and discrimination between students, which consequently classifies students into different categories, with one being not entitled to free education in person. "We express our total disagreement with this decision, because in essence it completely violates the right of students to education, a right equal to the good of health. It traps students in a single direction without providing other alternative criteria that currently exist for the rest of society.
At the same time, this decision leads to a dead end in the dialogue between the students and the Government in relation to the way of returning students and the demands made by students as a whole", notes Anagennisi.
The rationale for the winning proposal
It is noted that the proposal that was voted was submitted by the School of Health Sciences of the CUT and according to all the estimates presented, "the very high transmissibility of the Delta variant of the virus leads to an outbreak of cases, especially among those who do not have immunity through vaccination or disease. As a result, the number of those who will need hospitalization is expected to be far beyond the strength of the health system. Therefore, we believe that we must implement a protocol that creates conditions of safety for those who will return to the university premises, does not contribute to the increase in cases and protects the health system and public health in general. The best way to protect our personal protection and the health system is to vaccinate and gain immunity from a very high percentage of the population."
As the CUT notes, according to the data published by the Ministry of Health, immunity between the ages of 18-24 due to vaccination or disease is about 50%. "The percentage is expected and we seek to increase, however, it is certain that on August 30, when the new students will come for the briefing week and on September 6, when the classes begin in person, we will not be at the point where we will be able to operate in person without strict protocol and measures. With such a low rate of immunity among the student population and due to the peculiarities of the operation of a University with scattered office buildings, halls, laboratories and other infrastructure in the centre of Limassol, the planned restart of the University must be based on measures that are practically applicable", it says.
On his part, the rector of cut, Panagiotis Zafiris, pointed out that the decision taken is based on the need to protect the health of the university's population.
WITH SAFETY AND WITHOUT EXCLUSIONS RETURN
"Return of all students to universities, safely and economically inclusive", demands Proodeftiki, proposing:
>> Decision by the Government now to return all students to universities, without further delay. Make all the necessary preparations on time.
>> Universal, accessible and free diagnostic tests for students - Face-to-face teaching and with negative rapid test - Creation of diagnostic test stations within universities.
>> Creation of vaccination centres within the university to accelerate and facilitate students on a daily basis.
>> Conduct a comprehensive vaccination enlightenment campaign within universities.
>> Acceleration of the examination of student benefit applications for the academic year 2020-21 and timely payment of amounts. Extraordinary financial support for students for their increased needs.
