Students, as well as personnel of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), will be allowed to participate in face-to-face classes regardless of their Covid-19 vaccination status, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said on Monday, Aug. 29.

Chairman Prospero De Vera III mentioned that in this change of policy effective immediately on Monday, they asked HEIs to continue to talk with their stakeholders, particularly their faculty and their students to make sure that it is properly explained.

"We are changing it because vaccination levels are already high in HEIs, the percentage of the at-risk individuals is significantly lower now and therefore easier to control on the part of our HEIs," he said.

De Vera added that just like in other countries, which have taken out the vaccination requirements, CHED has already learned on how other countries have been doing it and applied it in the country. He also stated that they have also considered the views of the country's health experts that those who are at risk don't actually belong in the higher education age group and are relatively older and those with comorbidities.

The decision process

The CHED chief also stated that the decision was made upon consultation with the country's health experts and looking at trends in other countries and trends since November 2021.

He said that when they issued the CHED Circular in November 2021, saying that HEIs can conduct face-to-face classes in all degree programs, but said only those who are vaccinated can enter enclosed spaces like classrooms, the situation was very different. He mentioned that at that time the vaccination rate was much lower and at that time, the data out there was not very solid in terms of vaccinated versus unvaccinated.

"And we also said there should be no discrimination on students. Those who are unvaccinated should be given the option to do their classes online. That was the instruction so we were buying time for the situation to improve. We were buying time for vaccination rates to go up so that we can safely bring the students back to school," he explained.

"But looking at November 2021 and today so much has changed. Vaccination rates have gone up. The studies have come out in terms of risk for certain age groups. And if you noticed, as shown in the PowerPoint in many other countries their health authorities and their education authorities have started to take back the requirement for vaccination because the data on the ground and the risk is now easier to control," he added.

De Vere said that it is an evolving process and that CHED actually made the decision when they were "sufficiently confident" that the data on the ground, the vaccination rates, and the health experts agree with them.

Looking at the studies, looking at how other countries are addressing the issue, and consulting with our health experts according to De Vera, was the process that led to the decision.

Health protocols

In line with the changes on the minimum health and safety protocols provided by the national government, De Vera said that they will leave it to the HEIs to implement the other provisions of the guidelines.

"For example, whether the universities and colleges will still require a body temperature check, whether they will require the accomplishment of health declaration forms, we'll leave that to the discretion of our HEIs in the exercise of their management of their facilities," he added.

De Vera reminded that as HEI campuses reopen for face-to-face classes, students and personnel are urged to continue to adhere to strategies proven to help stop the spread of Covid-19.