HIGHER education institutions (HEIs) in the country are now required to conduct face-to-face classes starting in the second semester of the current academic year but hybrid or a combination of online and in-person classes will still be allowed.
CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III said even before he issued Memorandum Order No. 16 directing the return to in-person learning, the disposition towards transitioning to the safe return to physical campuses and bringing back students to school is gaining ground as a result of recovery measures from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CHED’s move came weeks after the Department of Education announced the resumption of full face-to-face classes for public elementary and secondary schools.
The DepEd though has allowed private schools to still opt to conduct blended learning.
De Vera said the impact of in-person learning cannot be overemphasized even in situations where emerging technologies, modalities and methodologies of learning have been rapidly developed and implemented since the start of the pandemic.
De Vera added that as of July this year, majority of Asian countries have resumed in-person learning although hybrid learning is also being utilized.
“This CHED Memorandum Order, therefore, is adopted to provide clarity and support to HEIs towards their progressive transition to onsite learning within the larger context of flexible learning,’ De Vera said in his order dated November 11.
“Upon a comprehensive assessment of institutional capabilities, analysis of learner needs and preferences, and conduct of stakeholder consultations, HEIs may choose to design and deliver their degree programs through onsite learning or hybrid learning modality starting the Second Semester of School year 2022-2013,’ the CHED chief added.
Hybrid learning, according to the order, is an approach that combines both remote learning and in-person classes to improve student experience and ensure learning continuity.
“By in-person learning in hybrid learning, it means classroom-based, on-campus, or face-to-face learning,” the order said.
The order said HEIs need to seek CHED’s approval if they want to go into full distance learning mode.
“HEIs opting to implement hybrid learning–which combines both onsite and remote learning–should allot at least 50 percent of the total contact time for in-person or face-to-face classes,” it said.
Contact time refers to the total number of learning hours critical to achieving the intended learning outcomes of a course or subject.
It said that for a course that requires at least 54 contact hours, 27 should be devoted or conducted on a learning facility such as a classroom, laboratory and other learning spaces.
“The rest of the contact hours may be delivered through other flexible learning strategies or modalities such as, but not limited to, self-paced printed or online learning modules, synchronous or asynchronous learning sessions, and remote guided peer learning approaches,” the CHED order said.
Onsite learning is also a must for shop or laboratory courses with on-the-job apprenticeship programs.
“In cases where partner host training establishments have integrated emerging remote work modalities including online options in the OJT and apprenticeship programs, the equivalent hours shall be included in reckoning the total training hours,” CHED says.
Colleges and universities seeking to offer graduate and undergraduate degree programs online or the distance learning mode must also seek CHED’s approval before doing so.
De Vera said HEIs are also mandated to submit to the respective CHED regional offices their respective teaching and learning institutional plans toward transitioning to onsite or hybrid learning at least “one month prior to their schedule of opening classes.”
