CHED: No more face-to-face classes for colleges, universities using new school calendar as COVID-19 crisis continues

By CNN Philippines Staff, 21 Apr 2020

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 21) — The Commission on Higher Education says colleges and universities following the new school calendar will no longer require students to attend face-to-face classes in the light of the COVID-19 crisis.

Speaking to CNN Philippines Tuesday, CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera said this was the consensus among all schools, however, he said this does not mean classes would be suspended entirely.

“Hindi isasara ang semestre, pero ititigil ang pag-hold ng regular residential, or face-to-face classes. ‘Yung mga natitirang linggo hanggang matapos ang semestre nila, kasi yung semestre dapat matatapos ngayong Mayo, ay gagawin nila para makapagsumite ng mga requirements, mga take home assignments, mga learning modules…para makapgcompute ng kanilang grades,” he said.

De Vera said this arrangement was because these schools were just approaching their midterms when the quarantine was announced in March.

For schools still following the old calendar, De Vera said the CHED ordered they finish their semester on April 30 as there was enough basis to issue grades.

He added there were still colleges and universities who are still looking to have students attend classes, but these were in places where there were no cases of COVID-19.

He said they have been advised to talk to local authorities to determine whether or not such a plan was feasible.