Graduating with a degree of difficulty

Postponements

Tertiary institutions around the country have postponed graduation ceremonies, moved them online or canceled them outright due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced commerce and industry online, so too have 8.74 million college students taken to the internet to complete their graduations.

This utilization of the internet not only applies to celebrations, ceremonies and photo shoots, but also students finalizing their theses and seeking jobs.

Unlike school students, who gradually returned to the classroom as the first wave of the pandemic waned, the reopening of colleges and universities has been more cautious in order to control large population movements.

Even universities that began welcoming students back on campus in late May have canceled graduation ceremonies and group photo sessions.

Some college students on the verge of graduating have only been allowed back on campus for several days to tidy up loose ends, pack up their belongings and collect their diplomas.