Unvaccinated students, according to CHED Executive Director Cinderella Benitez-Jaro, can continue their education through remote learning.

On Wednesday, December 1, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced that only fully vaccinated students will be able to attend restricted face-to-face sessions.

CHED Executive Director Cinderella Benitez-Jaro stated during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that unvaccinated pupils can continue their education through the flexible learning system.

"Flexible learning" for higher education institutions entails a combination of digital and non-digital technologies, which, according to CHED, does not always necessitate being linked to the internet.

CHED further stated that only fully vaccinated teaching and non-teaching professionals are permitted to attend the limited face-to-face classes.

As of November 25, 82.45 percent of the 290,380 higher education staff had been immunized against COVID-19. Meanwhile, 45.91 percent of the 4,007,795 college students have been immunized.

For schools to be permitted to hold the sessions, CHED will require them to adapt their premises to defend against COVID-19 and to meet basic public health requirements.

On November 16, the government's pandemic task committee authorized a staggered launch of face-to-face sessions for colleges and institutions.

During Phase 1, all regions on Alert Level 2 may apply to have restricted face-to-face lessons beginning in December 2021 and continuing.

All locations with an Alert Level 3 can apply in Phase 2. The implementation period will begin in January 2022 and continue through December 2022.

Prior to approving all degree programs to engage in face-to-face sessions, the CHED only permitted programs that required hands-on experiences, such as medicine and engineering.

CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III stated that the commission was collaborating with regional offices, the Department of Health, and local government units to implement school-based vaccinations in order to expedite tertiary student immunization.