CHEd approves 24 colleges, universities to conduct limited face-to-face classes this semester

By Ingrid Mendoza

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The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) gave their approval on the implementation of limited face-to-face classes for 24 colleges and universities for the academic year 2020-2021 on March 26.

In a announcement made by CHED Chairman, J. Prospero de Vera III, he stated that “these institutions have fully complied with the CHEd-DOH (Department of Health) guidelines and have been inspected by CHEd and their LGUs (local government units) so they can now bring their 3rd and 4th year students for hands-on training and laboratory classes in a limited face-to-face system,” as quoted by CNN.

3rd and 4th year students who have "hands-on-training and laboratory classes" could now be implemented in a "limited face-to-face system," de Vera added.

The following were the schools approved by CHEd:

1. Mariano Marcos State University - Batac (Region I)

2. St. Louis University (Cordillera Administrative Region)

3. Our Lady of Fatima University - City of San Fernando (Region III)

4. Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (National Capital Region-NCR)

5. University of Santo Tomas (NCR)

6. University of East Ramon Magsaysay (NCR)

7. Our Lady of Fatima University - Quezon City (NCR)

8. Our Lady of Fatima University - Valenzuela City (NCR)

9. Manila Central University (NCR)

10. University of the Philippines-Manila (NCR)

11. Adventist University of the Philippines (Region IV)

12. De La Salle Health and Medical Science Institute (Region IV)

13. University of Perpetual Help - Don Jose (Region IV)

14. Our Lady of Fatima University - Sta. Rosa (Region IV)

15. Naga College Foundation (Region V)

16. West Visayas State University (Region VI)

17. Central Philippine University (Region VI)

18. Cebu Institute of Medicine (Region VII)

19. University of Cebu School of Medicine (Region VII)

20. Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine (Region VI)

21. University of Iloilo (Region VI)

22. Blancia Foundation College, Inc. (Region IX)

23. Xavier University (Region X)

24. Liceo de Cagayan University (Region X)

CHEd stated that among these institutions, the priority would be students from health allied programs like medicine, nursing, medical technology/medical laboratory science, physical therapy, midwifery, and public health.

The system was said “to enable students to achieve key learning outcomes on specialized laboratory courses and hospital-based clinical clerkship/internship/practicum and to provide additional manpower to the country's health system,” the commission chairperson said as reported by CNN.

The higher education institutions (HEIs) would still be closely monitored to ensure that safety and health protocols were provided for the students.

The limited face-to-face system would not be mandatory and students would have an option to not physically attend class. Parents and students would be consulted before proceeding.

Even with the surge in Covid-19 cases, de Vera believed that they could push through with the system because there were areas that could control the level of infections. De Vera stated this in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Vaccination concerns

CHEd has asked the local government units to include the school faculty, staff, and students in the vaccination list.

“This is also the reason why President Duterte approved limited face-to-face classes - because our HEIs can help in the government’s vaccination program,” de Vera said as quoted by the Philippine News Agency.

Six HEIs have coordinated with the local government units and offered their facilities as vaccination centers. The following were: the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila Central University Gymnasium, St. Louis University Baguio Gymnasium, De La Salle Medical Health Sciences Institute, Our Lady of Fatima University, and Central Philippine University.