The University of the Philippines (UP) will implement a “no fail policy” this semester, the UP Office of the Student Regent (OSR) announced on Thursday, November 26.

“UP to implement a no fail policy this semester where a grade of ‘4’ or ‘5’ shall not be given,” the UP OSR announced in a tweet on Thursday. Under the UP grading system, 1 is the highest grade, while 5 is the failing grade.

The UP OSR said that the university will release the guidelines on the policy soon.

UP to implement a no fail policy this semester where a grade of “4” or “5” shall not be given.

OVPAA to release guidelines soon.#PassAllUP #EndTheSemUP#WalangIwananUP pic.twitter.com/VpjZQbXfNy

— UP Office of the Student Regent (@uposr) November 26, 2020

Meanwhile, the university will proceed with the semester despite calls from the UP community to end it “immediately.”

The first semester of academic year 2020-2021 in UP started on September 10 using the remote learning system, and will end on December 9.

‘Initial victory’

The UP OSR hailed the development. “This is an initial victory for the UP student body as we continuously fight for the most inclusive and compassionate solutions for our education!” it said.

“UP, pakinggan ang (listen to the) UP community!” it added.

UP students and faculty members earlier called on the university administration to end the semester immediately and implement a “pass or DRP” system to replace the numerical grade system. (READ: UP faculty call to ‘end semester immediately’)

They cited the recent calamities that affected students’ access to education due to an “indefinite and debilitating loss of electricity and internet connection, destruction of properties and homes, and loss of loved ones.”

On Monday, students from the Ateneo de Manila University called for a nationwide academic strike and demanded accountability from the Duterte government for its “criminal negligence” regarding the recent typhoons and the COVID-19 pandemic.

UP recently drew the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte, when he thought its students were the ones calling for a nationwide academic strike. He threatened to defund the premier state university for supposedly “recruiting communists” – an “empty threat,” said legal expert Tony La Viña.(READ: Why Duterte can’t defund UP)

In response to the “threat,” UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo said that UP is a “safe haven for civilized and intelligent discourse” and has “no place for intolerance, bigotry, and red-tagging.” – Rappler.com