Some colleges and universities in areas with low Covid-19 cases may soon be allowed to conduct limited face-to-face (F-to-F) classes for all degree courses, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III said they are now studying the measure to further increase the number of college students who could return to the classroom setting.
The arrangement may only be possible in areas with high vaccination rate and if such would be supported by concerned local government units (LGU)., he said
“We may be allowed, starting next month, schools to conduct limited face-to-face [classes] in all their degree programs as long as they abide by the guidelines and they are inspected,” De Vera said in a virtual news briefing last Monday.
Currently, the government only allows limited F-to-F classes for certain degrees like medicine and allied health sciences, engineering and technology courses; hospitality, hotel and restaurant management; tourism, travel management; marine engineering; and marine transportation.
De Vera said they started allowing F-to-F classes for certain degrees in January.
At least 181 schools nationwide, with 21,000 students and 1,000 faculty members, are now implementing the said scheme.
Of the 21,000 students, only 1 percent was infected with Covid-19, while for the faculty members, the infection rate was at 1.41 percent.
“All of them were asymptomatic and none of them died or were hospitalized. So this means the guidelines issued by CHED and DOH (Department of Health) are ensuring the protection of our students and faculty members,” De Vera said.
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