CHED orders colleges to follow existing rules on class suspensions during calamities

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Tuesday ordered all higher education institutions (HEIs) to observe their existing guidelines on the suspension of classes during calamities in the event of natural disasters and power interruptions.

CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III issued the statement following the “confusion” brought by the releasing of the revised Department of Education (DepEd) Order (DO) 37, allowing for the automatic cancellation of classes from kindergarten to Grade 12, and work in public schools in areas under any public storm signals raised by PAGASA.

The same DO likewise called for class suspension in K-12 in schools situated in areas issued with an orange or red rainfall warning, or flood warning from PAGASA; or affected by an earthquake with PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) V or above.

With this, De Vera stressed that HEIs have long been guided by Executive Order No. 66, Series of 2012, as well as the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 15, Series of 2012, with regard to class suspension due to typhoons, flooding, and other weather disturbances and calamities.

The CMO No. 15 stated that:

• Classes at the collegiate level, including graduate school, in the affected area, are automatically cancelled or suspended when Signal No. 3 is raised by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) and announced through various media outlets; 
• Classes at the collegiate level, including graduate school, may be cancelled or suspended at the discretion of the local chief executives of Local Government Units and/or heads of HEIs if special circumstances in their area such as flooding, road damage, etc. warrant it. HEIs are also advised to monitor National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) announcements where disasters and calamities are present.

“Until the amendment or revocation of the said Executive Order and CMO No. 15, Series of 2012, CHED instructs all HEIs to observe these guidelines in their respective campuses,” de Vera said.

The DepEd order 37 indicated that private schools, community learning centers, state and local universities and colleges (SUCs/LUCs) have the option whether or not to abide by its provisions, as it only pertained to public schools.

It also mentioned that there will be no automatic class suspension if there are power outages or interruptions in schools, but school officials are given discretion to cancel classes if such power outages result in a “poor learning environment.” —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA News