More than 300 higher education institutions (HEIs) nationwide are currently holding face-to-face classes, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Saturday, March 12, said.
CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said that over 300 HEIs have started implementing face-to-face classes.
“Kasi naglabas ba tayo ng (we came out with) guidelines last year para sa mga (for areas under) Alert Level 2 and Alert Level 3 so more than 1,000 degree programs ang nagfe (are now holding) face-to-face ,” De Vera said.
In areas under Alert Level 1, De Vera said that the major adjustment is the capacity level allowed to hold in-person classes.
“Ang pagbabago pagdating (The difference when it comes to) Alert Level 1 ay tataas yung (is the higher) maximum capacity ng mga (of) facilities mula (from) 70 percent to 100 percent capacity ng (of) facility,” De Vera explained.
This means that there will be no distancing of seats inside the classrooms, gymnasiums, and even in laboratories and other school facilities. “Other than that, kailangan pareho pa din ang ating (we have the same) guidelines, kailangan bakunado yung mga estudyante at mga faculty (the students and faculty should be vaccinated),” he said.
Additionally, De Vera said that all students that will be allowed to attend face-to-face classes should have PhilHealth or health coverage.
Moreover, De Vera stressed that complying with the health standards such as wearing of masks, frequent hand washing, the ventilation in the rooms --- among others --- should still be observed. These, he said, were adjusted in the guidelines for areas under Alert Level 1.
To date, De Vera said that a total of 313 universities are holding face-to-face classes.
He noted that most universities adjusted their plans to hold face-to-face classes when there was a spike in Covid-19 cases in January.
“Marami sa kanila nagsimula ng online noong January at sa mga susunod na buwan ay saka sila mag-face-to-face (Many of them started offering online in January and they intended to hold face-to-face classes in the coming months),” he explained.
De Vera said that most of these HEIs adjusted their curriculum and their syllabus which enabled them to start with online classes and they will shift to face-to-face classes when they are ready and allowed to do so.