Limited face-to-face classes in schools not mandatory —CHED

Students have the option not to participate in face-to-face classes that will be implemented in schools offering courses on medicine and allied health sciences, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said Monday.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved CHED’s recommendation to allow in-person classes in areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ, which according to Malacañang will benefit the country’s healthcare system amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“Hindi ito sapilitan. Ibig sabihin, iyong mga estudyante na ayaw mag-face-to-face kailangan bigyan ng alternatibo ng mga pamantasan kaya dapat sila’y magkonsultasyon sa kanilang mga estudyante at mga magulang,” CHED Chairperson Prospero de Vera III said at the Laging Handa briefing.

De Vera said the in-person classes would only cover students aged 20 and above or those in their third or fourth year in school.

He added the CHED can order a school’s closure should there be a confirmed COVID-19 case.

“Hindi automatic na lahat ng ekwelahan ay puwedeng magbukas. Sila ay mag-a-apply sa CHED at iinspeksyunin iyong kanilang mga eskwelahan kung tama ang kanilang pag-retrofit, kung sila ay may koordinasyon sa local government, at kung inoobserbahan ang  health standards doon sa kanilang eskwelahan,” De Vera said.

“Kung mayroong infection, ito ay ipasasara ng Komisyon hanggang malinis at maayos iyong problema.”

De Vera has no estimate yet on the number of schools that will hold in-person classes.

“Siguro within the next two to three weeks malalaman natin kung ilan ang maaaprubahan,” he said.

“Simultaneous ito na bibisitahin ng CHED regional office at iyong local IATF [COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force] at tingnan natin kung ilan iyong makakapasa.”—LDF, GMA News