CHED: HEIs may suspend in-person classes under high alert levels

Higher education institutions (HEIs) may preventively suspend limited face-to-face classes if they would be placed under high alert levels or under granular lockdowns, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said on Wednesday.

CHED Executive Director IV Attorney Cindy Jaro said HEIs could automatically halt face-to-face classes once their areas  placed under Alert Level 4 or 5.

"Of course, if the locality is classified at Alert level 4 and 5 under IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) resolution, there will be no in-person classes so there will be automatic preventive suspension for the entire HEI," Jaro said at an online press briefing.

These HEIs may reopen their schools once their areas are "reclassified to Alert Level 3 or better."

Jaro said there could be temporary suspensions of classes if the locality of HEI is placed under a granular lockdown.

Schools may also impose suspension during lockdown in cases of case clustering.

Jaro said the preventive suspension for case clustering incidents would be "based on assessment of the Crisis Management Committee of HEI and upon consultation with Local Task Force against COVID-19."

HEIs may then continue limited in-person classes once they completed contact tracing, disinfection and quarantine period for the confirmed and suspected cases.

On November 15, the CHED said that limited face-to-face classes for areas under Alert Level 2 may begin this December.

Under the IATF resolution, Areas under Alert Level System 1, 2, 3 may implement face-to-face classes but must comply with the following guidelines:

• Alert Level 1 - full indoor outdoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals
• Alert Level 2 - maximum of 50% indoor capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and 70% outdoor capacity
• Alert Level 3 - maximum of 30% indoor venue capacity and 50% outdoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated people

The IATF also implemented phase implementation for in-person classes by allowing all HEIs in Alert Levels 1 and 2 to conduct face-to-face classes in December 2021 onwards while those in Alert Level 3 areas will begin in January 2022 onwards.

Here is scope and coverage for limited face-to-face classes under alert level system for COVID-19 response:

• all state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and private HEIs
• all higher education programs and courses across disciplines and year levels
• only fully vaccinated tertiary students, teaching and non-teaching personnel

Omicron variant

On possible suspension of in-person classes due to the Omicron variant, Jaro said they will just "abide by" IATF resolution if there will be changes on the conduct of face-to-face classes.

The Philippines has yet to detect the case of Omicron variant but it imposed travel restrictions in several countries with local transmission of the said variant. It also temporarily halted the enforcement of a resolution that allows entry of fully vaccinated foreigners with visa-free privileges. 

'Collegiate sports'

Asked about resumption of contact sports in colleges, Jaro said the CHED would need a request  from athletic associations before granting collegiate sports activities.

"If it will now proceed with the opening of collegiate events, as of now, we haven't received a letter of intent to resume (contact sports) from different athletic associations. Once we have received the same in the existing guidelines, we will act on their request already," said Jaro.

CHED is currently inspecting facilities for training of NCAA schools to study the possibility of a bubble concept for the safety of student-athletes. -NB, GMA News