CHED: 126 universities imposed a break, 123 others to follow suit

A total of 126 universities have imposed an academic break since January amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Commission on Higher Education said on Thursday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, CHED chairperson Prospero De Vera III said some universities declared academic break even before the raising of Alert Level 3 in some areas of the country.

“Sa aking panayam sa mga pamantasan, 126 na mga universities ang nag-declare na ng academic break start of January pa lang,” he said.

(In my discussion with universities, 126 universities have already declared academic break by the start of January.)

Most of the universities that imposed academic breaks are in the National Capital Region, and Calabarzon, according to De Vera.

De Vera added, 123 more universities are set to declare academic break towards the end of January.

Amid calls for a nationwide academic break, De Vera said there is no need to do so because universities already have the discretion to temporarily stop school activities.

In the basic education level, meanwhile, the Department of Education on Wednesday allowed regional and schools division offices to suspend classes this January amid the surge of COVID-19 cases. —LBG, GMA News