MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (ChEd) is looking into opening limited face-to-face classes in all degree programs provided that colleges and universities will be in areas that are low-risk for COVID-19 and with high vaccination rates.
ChEd commissioner Prospero de Vera on Monday said the government is already studying the prospect, considering that the ongoing limited face-to-face classes are going well.
“Ang susunod naming pinag-aaralan na ay, in addition to limited face-to-face classes by degree program, pinag-aaralan na namin kung pwedeng payagan ang mga eskwelahan na mag-limited face-to-face in all degree programs in areas that have very low COVID-19 prevalence and also very high vaccination rate,” De Vera said in a Palace briefing.
(We are studying that in addition to limited face-to-face classes by degree program, we are studying if whether we could allow schools to hold in-person classes in all degree programs that have very low COVID-19 prevalence and also a very high vaccination rate.)
Currently, in-person classes are only allowed for the following degree programs in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ):
- medicine and health-allied
- engineering
- hospitality/ hotel and restaurant management
- tourism/ travel management
- marine engineering
- marine transportation
However, the holding of in-person classes must have the go-signal of local government units (LGUs). Universities and colleges must also abide by guidelines and they will be inspected.
De Vera said the expansion may happen in the “next couple of months.”
“Magiging dalawa ‘yung face-to-face, by degree program and possibly by geographical area,” he added.