CHED: No more face-to-face

classes for colleges, universities

using new school calendar as
COVID-19 crisis continues
April 21

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.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/21/ched-college-university-new-calendar-covid-19.html

CHED eyes ‘rolling’ opening of classes

May 5, 2020
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is considering a
“rolling” opening of classes for colleges and universities for academic year 2020-2021.

CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III yesterday told ABS-CBN news that under such a
system, the decision on when to open classes would be given to higher education
institutions and would depend on the capability of schools.

“There is a proposal for a rolling opening of classes. Those universities ready with a
flexible learning system, they can open in August. For those who have difficulty, they
can open later,” De Vera said.

Both CHED and the Department of Education have been considering their options on
when to schedule the opening of classes for the 2020-2021 school year in view of the
extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in most parts of the country until May
15 to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque earlier said the National Economic and
Development Authority had recommended the opening of classes in September.

Even after the lifting of the ECQ hopefully by May 15, there will be a general community
quarantine which still prohibits mass gatherings to ensure the prevention of a new
breakout of COVID-19 cases.

De Vera also opposed the proposal of the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) to make a 35 percent budget cut on all government agencies to raise additional
funds for the government’s war against COVID-19.

De Vera told ABS-CBN news that he appealed to the DBM to spare the budget of
CHED from the fund-raising move.

De Vera had warned the government that cutting the commission’s budget by that much
will adversely affect not only the operations of state universities and colleges but also
the implementation of the government’s free college education programs. 

Despite being the implementing agency of the universal access to quality college
education law, CHED was dealt a P11.65-billion budget cut for 2020, with the universal
access and financial assistance programs getting the biggest deductions, as provided
by the free college tuition law enacted three years ago.

The CHED was alloted P40.784 billion this 2020, which is 22.22 percent lower than its
budget of P52.435 billion for 2019.

The DBM said yesterday that it will review the CHED appeal to exempt the free tuition
program from the government’s belt-tightening measures amid the COVID-19
pandemic.
“We (will) review and evaluate it and then reply to them in due time,” Budget Secretary
Wendel Avisado said.  

De Vera said that National Budget Circular No. 580 issued by the DBM may affect the
implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary
Education Act.

The circular provides the guidelines for the discontinuance of programs, activities and

projects to generate funds that will be used for measures against COVID-19.

It also states that the DBM will no longer release 35 percent of programmed

appropriations of agencies under the 2020 General Appropriations Act effective April 1,
2020.

According to De Vera, the circular could cut funds specifically for the reimbursement of
tuition and miscellaneous fees of state universities and colleges (SUCs), and the
provision of Tertiary Education Subsidy.

He said that if this is implemented, SUCs may not be able to implement many

programs, or worse, may be forced to collect tuition to generate income.

De Vera said the CHED has submitted a letter to the DBM, presenting its position that
SUC funds for RA 10931 should not be included in budget cuts. Mary Grace Padin

Still no face-to-face classes

in SUCs, says CHEd
June 25, 2020
MANILA, Philippines — There will be no face-to-face classes in state universities
and colleges (SUCs) in July, but these may be allowed the following month in low-
risk areas, Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chair Prospero de Vera said on
Wednesday.
De Vera maintained that there would be no in-person classes in July, disputing reports
that CHEd might start piloting in-person classes as early as next month.
He, however, said that areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ),
where no new COVID-19 cases have been recorded for at least 28 consecutive days,
might allow for classes in some SUCs to open under the traditional learning setup in
August.
De Vera said CHEd and the Department of Health were now crafting guidelines on
possible face-to-face classes in low-risk MGCQ areas for approval by the Inter-
Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, which is
managing the pandemic.
“If approved, I will personally visit the higher education institutions [that] will
redesign their classrooms, libraries, auditoriums, cafeterias and other facilities based
on health protocols and guidelines and see if limited face-to-face is possible,” he said.

CHED says schools ready for 'flexible

learning' in August
July 10, 2020

'We are ready to open [classes] this August. No ifs, no buts.

Learning must continue. We learn as one, we are ready,' says
CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) Chairman Prospero de Vera III said Friday, July 10, that universities and colleges are
ready to open classes in August even if the country is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
"We are ready to open [classes] this August. No ifs, no buts. Learning must continue. We learn
as one, we are ready," De Vera said during a virtual briefing on Friday morning.
According to De Vera, "flexible learning" which will be implemented this year is not new. 
"We are ready because our top universities have been doing flexible learning even before
COVID. The other universities have shifted to flexible learning during the quarantine and are
moving ahead for the opening of classes," De Vera explained. 
"Flexible learning" for higher education institutions involves a combination of digital and non-
digital technology, which CHED says doesn't necessarily require connectivity to the internet.
(READ: During pandemic, student climbs a mountain to send class requirement)
According to De Vera, universities and colleges have the freedom to choose what mode would
be effective for them. 
Some of them would be using pure online, pure modular, while others are combination of the
two, De Vera said. 
But the story on the ground is different. 
Numerous posts on Facebook and Twitter have gone viral, showing Filipino students climbing
trees, or even mountains, just to get a good internet signal for their classes. Such posts have
outraged both netizens and student groups who have called out educational institutions for
prioritizing academic output over student welfare. (READ: During pandemic, student climbs a
mountain to send class requirement)
When President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon and other parts of the Philippines on
lockdown on mid-March, several schools shifted to online classes, following
CHED’s advisory that encouraged schools to use "available distance learning, e-learning, and
other alternative modes of delivery in lieu of residential learning if they have the resources to do
so."
Students of the top schools in the country had urged CHED to suspend online classes nationwide.
(READ: Students of top 4 PH schools urge CHED to suspend online classes)
The students said that while they "understand the need for learning to continue, the different
circumstances of students across universities are not ideal and conducive for such.”
Many students and groups have also called for an “academic freeze” as the country fights the
pandemic. They pointed out that the coronavirus lockdown affected household finances, and
many Filipinos don't even have access to a computer or the internet.

'Bayanihan'
On Thursday, July 9, 6 universities offered to faculty members in the country free training on
how to conduct "flexible learning."
"A lot of the big universities have been doing a good job for training their faculty members.
There are close to 2,000 public and private universities. While I am confident that top
universities are very ready, I am concerned that smaller universities, especially those in far-flung
areas, may not be as prepared because they don't have the internal capacity or they have less
resources," De Vera said.
During Friday’s press briefing, De Vera said that he felt the "bayanihan" spirit alive among
higher education institutions (HEIs) as top universities helped their smaller counterparts cope
with the challenges in education disrupted by the pandemic. 
"Universities are rising up to the challenge. Napapakita na kayang-kaya magawa ng universities
through Bayanihan and this is the first time in CHED’s history," De Vera said.
De Vera urged other universities to help smaller institutions that don’t have the capacity to train
their faculty members to join their initiative. 
"Walang katapusan itong capacity-building (This capacity-building will not end). We will only
be able to address COVID-19 only if we altogether educate and learn as one. I call on the other
leading HEIs with expertise in flexible learning to join us in this Bayanihan initiative to help
other HEIs," De Vera said. 
On the issue of limited face-to-face classes in low-risk areas, De Vera said CHED was still
studying this possibility. He said on June 24 that CHED was "crafting guidelines for possible
limited face-to-face classes in low risk MGCQ areas as part of the flexible learning system."
Last May, experts at the University of the Philippines warned the transmission of COVID-19
might increase if face-to-face classes would open in Metro Manila schools in August and
September.
As of Friday, the Philippines recorded 52,914 cases of the disease, including 1,360 deaths and
13,230 recoveries. – Rappler.com

https://rappler.com/nation/ched-says-ready-
open-classes-august-2020
No regular face-to-face classes in
August: CHED
July 11,2020
MANILA – There will be no regular in-person classes in the opening of the semester this coming
August, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Prospero de Vera III clarified on
Saturday.

"CHED wants to make it very clear that higher education institutions (HEIs) will open the semester in
August using flexible learning mode. There are no regular face-to-face classes in August," he said.

The statement came following a Rappler story, which quoted him as saying: “We are ready to open
[classes] this August. No ifs, no buts. Learning must continue. We learn as one, we are ready.”

De Vera said the report failed to provide the full context behind his remarks, adding that netizens
proceeded on bashing and accusing CHED and the government for being "insensitive" and
"uncaring" for the health and safety of students.

"Without stating the proper context, the Rappler article made the readers who did not watch the
CHED HiEd Press Conference believe that CHED is pushing for the opening of 'regular' classes by
August despite the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

"The context behind the said quote is that the Commission recognizes the bayanihan spirit of the
HEIs to help other HEIs, especially those in far-flung areas to prepare them for flexible learning
when classes resume in August," he noted.

Based on its proposed guidelines on the implementation of flexible learning, the agency defines such
arrangement as the "design and delivery of programs, courses, and learning interventions that
address learners’ unique needs in terms of place, pace, process, and products of learning."

It noted that this also involves the use of digital and non-digital technology and could cover both in-
person learning and out-of-classroom learning modes. (PNA)