The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will monitor the opening of limited face-to-face classes in higher education institutions (HEIs) expected to start this February.
CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera told reporters in a series of Viber messages on Thursday, Feb. 3 that the number of HEIs that will offer limited face-to-face classes for all degree programs is not yet available.
“The opening of the second semester in many universities will start this February so that data will be available in two weeks' time,” De Vera said in a mix of English and Filipino.
De Vera explained that in November 2020, he issued an advisory stating that HEIs that were ready can start holding limited face-to-face for all degree programs.
Universities and colleges located in areas under Alert Level 2 were allowed to open limited face-to-face classes in December 2021.
Those HEIs in areas under Alert Level 3 were allowed to open in-person classes for all degree programs by January 2022.
However, due to the surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, CHED and the Department of Health (DOH) decided to make some adjustments in the schedule.
“In January, upon discussion with DOH, I issued an advisory saying that HEIs in Alert Level 3 may open by Jan. 31, 2022,” De Vera said.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/11/ched-limited-face-to-face-classes-for-all-programs-alert-level-3-areas-to-begin-on-jan-31/
De Vera said that the details for opening limited face-to-face classes for HEIs located in areas under Alert Levels 2 and 3 were made available in the guidelines jointly issued by CHED and DOH in December 2021.
Meanwhile, De Vera clarified that HEIs in regions VII, VIII, and CARAGA might open limited face-to-face classes for all degree programs at a later date.
This, De Vera said, is not because of COVID-10 but due to the “effects of Typhoon Odette.”
In his earlier interviews, De Vera repeatedly said that the opening of limited face-to-face classes in HEIs would still depend on the current conditions on the ground.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/12/ched-limited-face-to-face-classes-depend-on-conditions-on-the-ground/
He added that the offering of limited face-to-face classes would also depend on the individual decisions of HEIs based on their overall readiness in terms of the design of the schools and Flexible Learning curriculum --- among others.
The offering of limited face-to-face classes in higher education started as early as last year.
CHED allowed select HEIs offering Medicine and Allied Health Sciences to hold limited face-to-face classes in January 2021.
In September 2021, CHED also expanded face-to-face activities for Engineering and Technology programs, Hospitality/ Hotel and Restaurant Management, Tourism/ Travel Management, Marine Engineering, and Marine Transportation.