COMMISSION on Higher Education chief Prospero de Vera III yesterday said there is no necessity for a declaration of a nationwide academic break despite the latest surge in COVID-19 cases since tertiary school management can make the call on their own.
Speaking over the public briefing “Laging Handa,” De Vera said 126 universities have declared academic holidays in the first two weeks of the year while 123 more intend to follow suit before the end of the month.
He noted that school officials exercised their own judgment based on their perception of necessity due to prevailing conditions in their localities.
“Most of them simply took steps to delay implementation of limited face to face classes and declaring academic breaks,” he pointed out, adding most of the 126 universities are located in Metro Manila and Region 4A or Calabarzon.
De Vera said the opening of the second semester this year will proceed as scheduled despite concerns about the effects of the record-high numbers of COVID-19 cases posted this month.
He said only the implementation of limited face-to-face classes will be adjusted to make allowance for safety.
“The opening of the second semester will not be postponed. But because of the increase in COVID-19 incidence, we issued new guidelines last week that the earliest face-to-face may be held on January 31 in areas under Level 3,” he said.
He clarified the designated date is only for reference since situations on the ground should still be the key consideration, backed by consultations with the local government, the condition of existing facilities, and the input of faculty members and students.
“From my discussion with over 2,000 universities and colleges in the past week, many of them are in areas under Level 3 so they are aiming to start face to face classes no earlier than February,” he said.
Tertiary educational institutions in Regions 8 (Eastern Visayas), Region 7 (Central Visayas) and Caraga that bore the brunt of the fury of typhoon Odette have informed the CHED of the deferment of the opening of the second semester.
“They are still doing repairs on their facilities damaged by typhoon Odette. There are others that still do not have stable power supply so it is not just COVID-19 that is causing problems but also the impact of the calamity,” he said.
The Department of Education said the cooperation and unity of schools, local government units, and parents in the limited face-to-face classes in public and private schools will be used by the agency in its plan to expand in-persons classes next school year.
“I think this is the opportunity insofar as education is concerned — to really showcase the shared responsibility and coordination between the schools, the community, the parents, and the LGUs. We were able to see the effort of all stakeholders, especially the local government units,” said DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma.
He said teachers participating in the limited in-person classes welcomed the DepEd move as they are now able to determine the strengths and weaknesses of their students.
“Many teachers have manifested that they really find it difficult to assess their learners if it is remote learning, so with the introduction of face-to-face learning, mas madali po nilang naibibigay ‘yung feedback to our learners,” he said.
The DepEd has been implanting limited face-to-face classes since last November in some parts of country under COVID low-risk areas.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Isidro Lapeña urged the public to avail of its free online courses relevant to COVID-19 management amid the increase of cases in the country.
“As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, we are inviting everyone to enroll in our free online courses related to COVID-19 management not just to help prevent the spread of the virus but also to be productive amid travel restrictions,” Lapeña said in a statement.
The courses offered through TESDA Online Program (TOP) are Contact-tracing Free Course, COVID-19 Awareness, COVID-19 General Duties, COVID-19: How to put on and remove personal protective equipment (PPE); Learning Online during COVID-19; Managing TVET during COVID-19; Standard precautions: Hand hygiene; Teaching Online During COVID-19; Health Effects of Climate Change; and Practicing COVID-19 Preventive Measures in the Workplace.
In 2021, health-related courses appear to be the most in demand courses for Filipinos in the TOP, according to TESDA. — With Noel Talacay
