CHED padlocks Harvardian College in Pampanga

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) revealed on Wednesday that it has served a closure order against the Harvardian College, which is located in San Fernando City, Pampanga for “gross and serious violations" of policies, standards and guidelines. Harvardian College’s closure came on Tuesday, five days after Education Secretary Armin Luistro directed Department of Education officials and personnel “not to enroll in colleges and universities offering masteral and doctoral programs not recognized by the CHED." Ordered closed were the college’s Master of Education program and five baccalaureate programs in Education, Elementary Education, Political Science, English, and Commerce. CHED Executive Director Julito Vitriolo said “no new students shall be admitted by (the) college starting the second semester" of the current academic year. The CHED Commission en banc reached its decision to close Harvardian College last September 12. It took the CHED about six weeks to enforce the decision. CHED’s regional office for Central Luzon has been authorized to “facilitate the efficient transfer of all students affected by the closure order to other CHED-recognized and compliant institutions." — ELR, GMA News