Shift to new academic calendar to give HEIs time to prepare for class opening – CHED
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has recommended to private universities and colleges or the higher education institutions (HEIs) that they shift to a new academic calendar for them to have enough time to prepare for the opening of classes.
“In my consultation with the private schools, I said that they may now need to discuss if they are going to move their [academic] calendar and start their classes in August, so they have additional two months to prepare,” CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said.
Schools using the old academic calendar or the June-May calendar might have a hard time adjusting in the opening of classes due to the uncertainty of the duration of the current lockdown period, he added.
“If they open classes in June, the circumstances now are very uncertain so they might have a hard time. They might consider moving their calendar, so should the first semester start in August, they will have time to adjust,” De Vera said.
“This is more practical and less stressful for them because when the students return to school, they should ensure that the premises are safe. If you’re not sure, do not allow the students to go back because they are the ones who will suffer. The school has to adjust,” he added.
CHED has authorized colleges and universities using the June-May calendar to finish the current academic year until April 30, while schools using the August-July calendar are allowed to extend the semester for a maximum of one month after the lifting of the quarantine.
In its latest advisory, CHED added that (higher education institutions (HEIs) may conduct summer or midterm classes only for graduating students who would need to complete their academic requirements while strictly observing social distancing and other safety requirements to prevent the spread of the disease.
The higher education chief explained that conducting summer classes is “impossible” for schools using the old academic calendar due to time constraints.