The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will further investigate the sudden closure of Colegio de San Lorenzo (CDSL) after they have facilitated the transfer of displaced students to other institutions.
CHED Chairperson Prospero “Popoy” De Vera III, in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 30, admitted that all efforts of the Commission are now focused into ensuring the well-being and convenient transfer of affected students to other schools.
“The position of the Commission is once we have effectively assisted the students to transfer, that is the time that we will look into possible violations of CHED requirements,” said De Vera.
“, I have not instructed the CHED legal to look into that. All the efforts now are in helping the students to transfer,” he added, highlighting that the number one accountability of CHED is to help the learners.
In the same press conference, De Vera described CDSL’s closure as a “special case” as the decision to permanently close was abrupt whereas most of the universities that are having financial difficulties plan ahead of time.
“ so there will be minimal disruption. Therefore, if this is planned ahead of time, the students... they know fully well what they are going into there is sufficient time for them to look into the situation,” he added.
De Vera then assured the public that they will further look into CDSL’s case “at a proper time.” CDSL President Mary Claire Balgan, on the other hand, said that they will cooperate with regulatory bodies, local government units (LGUs), as well as in all investigations that will happen.
“Right now our focus is really to make sure that students have a new college and university to go to. I hope we are the last. This is a very sad and painful event for us,” said Balgan.
After 35 years of service, private Catholic college CDSL announced its closure due to financial instability that was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.