CHED: 731 HEIs opened in August, 186 more opening from September to October

MANILA, Philippines — Some 731 higher education institutions (HEIs) have opted to open their classes in August while 186 more are set to open from September to October, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said Thursday.

CHED chair Prospero De Vera III noted that the institutions were allowed to begin classes depending on their readiness to conduct whatever education delivery mode they chose.

“So depende doon sa kakayanan ng mga pamantasan magbukas…Ang patakaran ng IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases] ay payagan sila kung kailan sila handa,” De Vera said in an online Palace briefing.

(It depends on their readiness to open. IATF’s directive was to allow them to open whenever they are ready.)

De Vera explained that HEIs fully using online education can open anytime while those using flexible learning can open starting August.

Flexible learning uses both digital and non-digital technology in education, an example of which is utilizing radio and television.

“From June to July, 20 mga pamantasan na ang nagbukas. Marami dito ay gumagamit ng pure online so about 20 HEIs opened from June to July,” De Vera said.

(From June to July, 20 higher education institutions opened. Many of them used pure online so about 20 HEIs opened from June to July.)

Previously, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes to prevent the transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among students.

He said the suspension would be in effect until a vaccine against the disease is developed.

JE