Schools to decide on face-to-face classes

THE Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) said that the decision to resume physical classes will be made by higher education institutions (HEIs) based on the situation on the ground.

CHEd Chairman J. Prospero “Popoy” De Vera 3rd said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo that some schools in Metro Manila deferred the holding of inperson classes.

“On the ground, public universities in NCR (National Capital

Region) have decided that the earliest that they will start face-to-face classes will be in February — they already moved it to be sure and to be ready. We don’t want schools to reopen in the middle of the surge because it could put students at risk,” he added.

De Vera said that some HEIs rescheduled the resumption of in-person classes for other reasons including the rehabilitation of facilities damaged by Typhoon Odette last December.

He emphasized that the students’ return to school for faceto-face classes will be upon the discretion of schools based on onground conditions and the result of their consultation with students and respective local government units (LGUs).

In line with this, CHEd will hold a meeting within the week with school administrators and health experts to guide them in making adjustments that should be taken given the Covid-19 situation.

De Vera clarified that other HEIs located in areas under Alert Level 2 have resumed face-to-face classes, in accordance with previous Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) resolutions and CHEd issuances.

“HEIs intending to hold limited face-to-face classes during the Covid-19 pandemic must be willing to assume the responsibilities for the reopening of their campuses based on their capability to comply with the health and safety protocols, to retrofit their facilities, and to get the support of their stakeholders,” CHEd said in a statement.