THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) yesterday said tertiary level educational institutions may resume face-to-face classes by next month once they have been assessed and found compliant with all requirements set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
CHED Secretary Prospero de Vera, however, said in the public briefing Laging Handa that most universities and colleges would likely rather finish the current semester on blended learning system before tackling the transition to in-person lessons.
“It will depend on how fast they will finish retrofitting facilities to be compliant with safety standards. But if they are ready, they can start this December,” De Vera said.
Since January, 161 higher education institutions have been implementing limited face-to-face classes in medical and allied health sciences, engineering, tourism, and maritime courses.
De Vera stressed that the key requirements before any school can participate in the expanded F2F lessons remain unchanged: only fully vaccinated students, instructors, and staff will be allowed in campus; there should be adequate hygiene facilities; the campus should have completed retrofitting to allow for physical distancing; and the local government unit must have signified its agreement.
He added that student participation must be voluntary. Those who would opt out may continue with flexible learning online of offline.
“We will require the schools to present proof that consultations have been held with parents and students which should be an opportunity to discuss details of the face-to-face system.
Participation is optional, not mandatory,” he said.
The CHED said it does not anticipate any major hitch in the retrofitting of thousands of tertiary level schools although consultations are being made with various school managements to collect more input on how to facilitate the assessment processes on compliance.
While De Vera admitted the CHED has no funds to spare for assistance to smaller universities in the provinces on the cost of retrofitting, he said the agency is banking on the commitment made by senators to include a subsidy package in the 2022 budget.
