Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 12) – The Commission on Higher Education plans to seek President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval for the expansion of limited face-to-face classes to other degree programs that require hands-on experience.
CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III told CNN Philippines on Saturday the scope of their proposal includes engineering, information technology, and maritime students.
De Vera added the safety of students taking up allied medicine courses, who were permitted by the national government to conduct limited face-to-face classes last January, is the key for them to decide on the expansion proposal.
“Ang ginagawa ng komisyon ngayon ay pinag-aaralan yung datos on ground sa pag-implement ng policy na ito (What the commission is doing now is we are studying data on ground on the implementation of limited face-to-face classes policy),” he said.
De Vera said among the 73 universities currently implementing limited face-to-face classes, most of them have recorded zero COVID-19 infections among their students and faculty. Those universities which tallied COVID-19 cases were ordered to suspend their limited physical classes.
“Generally, doon sa datos na nakuha namin so far, napakaliit ng porsyento na nagkaroon ng COVID-19. Habang dumadami ang mga datos, kumbinsido ako na ligtas na magkaroon ng face-to-face at maaring i-expand ito sa ibang degree programs,” the CHED chairman said.
[Translation: Generally, based on the data we gathered so far, there is a small percentage of schools which tallied COVID-19 cases. While we continue to add our data, I’m convinced that it is safe to hold face-to-face classes and it may expand to other degree programs.]
The National Economic and Development Authority also suggested a pilot run of limited face-to-face classes among students by August.
“Eventually, less restrictions will allow mobility of children and elderly, resumption of physical classes which we can possibly pilot test by August, and stimulate more economic activities,” NEDA Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said in a virtual briefing.
