Due to the raging coronavirus pandemic – which has so far infected over 370,000 people in the country – the University of the Philippines (UP) said that it will use a system of freshmen admissions “unique” to the health crisis.

In an article posted on the UP website on Tuesday, October 27, the university said that it is studying 5 options to administer the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for academic year 2021-2022.

These are the following:

1. A paper-and-pen administration of the UPCAT, subject to IATF and LGU COVID-19 protocols and coordination
2. An online UPCAT
3. A hybrid paper-and-pen and online mode for UPCAT
4. A no-UPCAT scenario where UP may mine data from the applicant’s personal data sheet, high school records, the specific high school and performance of its graduates in UP, etc., to arrive at the University Predicted Grade (UPG)
5. A moratorium on freshmen admissions

UP said it will base its decision on consultations with various stakeholders. It added that the decision is expected to be reached during the UP Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, October 29.

According to UP, if any of the first 4 options is adopted, the school will start accepting applications by November 2020.

If option 5 is chosen, UP will not admit freshmen for the next school year.

The university said that the consultations are being held with UP faculty, high schools, UPCAT contact persons, testing centers, and volunteers. 

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero de Vera III raised concerns over the conduct of online entrance examinations for colleges and universities during the coronavirus pandemic.

De Vera said what’s difficult with online examinations is that you don’t know if the students are the ones really answering the questionnaires.

Meanwhile, UP gave its assurance that its admissions will be “inclusive, with the acknowledgment that some applicants do have the economic privilege, and with empathy for the marginalized.”

UPCAT, which is usually administered every 3rd quarter of the year, is one of the most anticipated college entrance examinations in the country. For academic year 2020-2021 alone, more than 100,000 examinees took the UPCAT.

At least two universities in the country already announced that they will no longer hold college entrance exams for the next school year. (READ: No college entrance exams in Ateneo, UST for academic year 2021-2022 due to pandemic)

Classes in UP for this school year started on September 10 using the remote learning system. – Rappler.com