Six HEIs are permitted by CHED to hold limited face-to-face classes
The
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has authorized a total of six Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs) to hold limited face-to-face classes in the midst
of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country after
they met all of the requirements set forth by the agencies involved.
CHED
Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III confirmed on Saturday, March 6, that the
agency has given permission to six higher education institutions to conduct
limited in-person classes.
The University of the Philippines-Manila (UP) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) both in Manila; Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) in Valenzuela; and the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERM) in Quezon City; the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health in Pasig; and the St. Louis University in Baguio are among the HEIs offering medical programs that have been permitted to hold limited face-to-face classes.
HEIs
that offer medical programs and want to hold limited face-to-face classes can
submit letters of intent and applications to CHED. CHED, according to De Vera,
has set “no deadline” for the application process.
The
Joint
Memorandum Circular No. 2021-001, or the guidelines for
the gradual resumption of limited face-to-face classes at the tertiary level,
was issued by CHED and the Department of Health (DOH) in February. The
procedure for HEIs that want to hold limited face-to-face classes during the
COVID-19 pandemic was outlined in the joint memorandum circular.
Medicine,
Nursing, Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science, Physical Therapy,
Midwifery, and Public Health will be given priority for the gradual reopening
of campuses for limited face-to-face classes, according to CHED and DOH.
While
it is up to HEIs to determine whether they want to conduct limited face-to-face
classes, CHED and DOH mentioned that they can also “opt not to
conduct” limited in-person classes and continue to use flexible learning
methods.