The government's pandemic task force has allowed higher education institutions (HEIs) to hold face-to-face classes up to 100 percent classroom capacity as long as only those fully vaccinated students and teaching and non-teaching personnel are allowed on the premises, Malacañang announced.
Communication Undersecretary Kris Ablan announced this as the government slowly eased Covid-19 restrictions to revitalize the economy.
In his first press briefing as the designated acting Palace deputy spokesman, Ablan said the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the conduct of limited face-to-face classes for HEIs as more countries are placed under Alert Level 1.
According to Ablan, HEIs shall take the self-assessment checklist as per CHED-DOH guidelines and must operate under self re-opening. However, they can continue to get technical assistance from their respective local government units (LGUs), the local IATF, CHED regional offices, or CHED Expert Groups.
It is likewise in the discretion of the HEIs to choose the learning modalities to operationalize as long as there will be continuity of learning under any flexible learning method subject to the conditions the HEIs may require.
Despite the Alert Level 1 status, students and teaching and non-teaching personnel must be fully vaccinated before they are allowed to enter the premises. Unvaccinated or partially unvaccinated students shall continue under flexible learning modalities.
Ablan said that the allowable seating capacity in classrooms of HEIs in areas under Alert Level 1 is now at a maximum of 100 percent.
There is likewise no restriction to the operations of student dormitories but HEIs should coordinate with their LGUs before reopening.
Meanwhile, HEIs must ensure that students who will participate in face-to-face classes are registered with PhilHealth or have equivalent medical insurance that covers medical expenses for Covid-19, as either direct or indirect contributors.
Ablan said the IATF technical working group recommended that students above the age of 21 enroll in PhilHealth as indigent members because the student has no visible means of income. Otherwise, students below 21 may be classified as dependents of their parents or legal guardians.