The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) aims to reopen limited face-to-face classes in all degree programs at higher education institutions in regions classified under Alert Level 2 by December.

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However, the final decision will be made by the schools and local government units(LGUs).

During a briefing before the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera stated that they had previously presented this idea to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

According to De Vera that they are targeting initially all regions under Alert Level 2 to start by December and by January all regions under Alert Level 3.

"This is the proposal that we have submitted to the IATF," De Vera said.

"Those that are already ready to begin, can start by December. The others will begin by the second semester because they can no longer change whatever they have started in the first semester, which will end soon," De Vera said in a Filipino statement.

Nonetheless, De Vera stated that the final choice on when face-to-face lessons would be implemented in their locations will be made by institutions and local governments.

CHED previously said that it will allow face-to-face sessions at 50% capacity in places under Alert Level 2 such as Metro Manila, as long as staff and students are completely vaccinated and consent from the relevant local government unit (LGU) has been obtained.

"If they are ready, we can inspect them even tomorrow. That's why we are holding the town meeting in the different universities para malaman namin kung sino na 'yung handa para mauna na silang inspekin [so we'll know the others that are ready so we begin the inspection]," De Vera said.

"So it's not the CHED who will decide when it will start, it is the schools who will decide whether they're ready," he added.

Based on CHED guidelines, these are the four guidelines that have to be followed for the conduct of the limited face-to-face classes including:

  • Fully vaccinated faculty and students
  • A maximum of 50% room capacity
  • Concurrence/support from LGUs concerned
  • Retrofitting of facilities to be used for limited face to face classes as inspected and authorized by CHED