Private universities and colleges should start this August — CHED
Published May 11, 2020 12:00 am
By Alex San Juan
Private universities and colleges who are still using the old academic calendar should now shift to the new calendar and open their classes in August, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reiterated on Monday, May 11.
CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera III
(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN) CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said universities could use the months of May to July to prepare for the flexible learning system as part of the "new normal" amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country. "There is no significant shift in the opening of classes because most higher education institutions (HEIs) are starting in August under the new calendar. We are not changing the opening of classes, what will change is that many private universities who are still using the old calendar will now move to August," De Vera said during a Laging Handa virtual briefing. According to De Vera, the Commission already proposed a "rolling opening" of classes where universities who are already implementing flexible learning could open classes in August. Universities who are having difficulties and will use significant residential or face-to-face classes can open in September or later, De Vera said. "The universities now are all adjusting and going to their respective Board of Regents (BOR) to propose when they will open. Most state universities and colleges (SUCs) in my Board have proposed for August opening but some have also proposed the first week of September," he added. The higher education chief said they are giving tertiary institutions the months of May and June to come up with a firm plan approved by their BOR to be submitted to CHED and to assess their preparedness to open classes in August. Meanwhile, De Vera said that the Commission is set to roll out a massive training program for teachers to help them in the implementation of flexible learning. "I have issued a memorandum asking universities that can train teachers on flexible learning to submit a proposal to the Commission for approval so they can start training teachers starting late May or early June," he added. Classes in all levels in Luzon have been canceled since the entire island was placed on lockdown in mid-March to prevent possible exposure of students to the virus and to contain the spread of the disease. 
CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera III(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN) CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said universities could use the months of May to July to prepare for the flexible learning system as part of the "new normal" amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country. "There is no significant shift in the opening of classes because most higher education institutions (HEIs) are starting in August under the new calendar. We are not changing the opening of classes, what will change is that many private universities who are still using the old calendar will now move to August," De Vera said during a Laging Handa virtual briefing. According to De Vera, the Commission already proposed a "rolling opening" of classes where universities who are already implementing flexible learning could open classes in August. Universities who are having difficulties and will use significant residential or face-to-face classes can open in September or later, De Vera said. "The universities now are all adjusting and going to their respective Board of Regents (BOR) to propose when they will open. Most state universities and colleges (SUCs) in my Board have proposed for August opening but some have also proposed the first week of September," he added. The higher education chief said they are giving tertiary institutions the months of May and June to come up with a firm plan approved by their BOR to be submitted to CHED and to assess their preparedness to open classes in August. Meanwhile, De Vera said that the Commission is set to roll out a massive training program for teachers to help them in the implementation of flexible learning. "I have issued a memorandum asking universities that can train teachers on flexible learning to submit a proposal to the Commission for approval so they can start training teachers starting late May or early June," he added. Classes in all levels in Luzon have been canceled since the entire island was placed on lockdown in mid-March to prevent possible exposure of students to the virus and to contain the spread of the disease.