Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) chairman Prospero de Vera lll said the commission is eyeing the possible opening of limited face-to-face classes for all programs by “geographic area,” or those areas that have low COVID-19 cases and high vaccination rates.
“Pinagaaralan pa natin yan. Nagsisimula pa lang tayong gumawa ng guidelines,” De Vera said during the Laging Handa briefing. (We are still studying that. We are starting to craft the guidelines.)
“Ang tinatarget natin diyan ay matapos ang guidelines maybe November, December at titignan natin kung anong kalagayan on the ground by January kung pwede na ito,” he added.
CHED presented to IATF the evidence on the ground that would show that the mechanisms that have been put in place, retrofitting of facilities by HEIs, observance of health protocols, putting up of crisis management committees, coordination with local government units concerned, etc., were effective in ensuring the achievement of the competencies of students/graduates without compromising their safety.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on September 21, 2021, issued the authority for F-to-F activities in the following areas:
- Engineering and Technology programs
- Hospitality/Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Tourism/ Travel Management
- Marine Engineering
- Marine Transportation
De Vera mentioned that coordination with local governments is important since they will be involved in contract tracing and isolation efforts should a student contract COVID-19.
“Kapag may nagkasakit diyan, ang sasalo diyan ay hindi lamang eskwelahan, local government din. Kasamang magko-contact trace, magpapa-quarantine ng mga estudyante so kung hindi kumbinsido at hindi natin kasama ang local government sa pagpaplano, mahirap hong agad agad na buksan ang mga pamantasan,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the expansion of limited in-person classes for degree programs requiring “hands-on experience” in higher education institutions located in areas under the government’s most lenient quarantine classification.
Additional Report: Philippine INQ, BM
Image source: CHED, Philstar
