The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said on Monday, October 11, it was studying the possibility of allowing limited face-to-face classes by “geographic area,” or those areas that have low COVID-19 cases and high vaccination rates.

At the Malacañang press briefing on Monday, CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III said the commission of in-person classes for all degree programs could be possible in the next months.

“Baka papayagan na natin sa mga susunod na buwan in all their degree programs. Magiging dalawa na ang ating limited face to face classes, by degree programs and possibly by geographic areas. Iyon ang ating pinag aaralan ngayon,” De Vera said.

(Maybe we can already allow in all degree programs in the next months. We will have two by then – by degree programs and possibly by geographic areas. This is what we’ve been studying now.)

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Currently, limited face-to-face classes are only allowed in select degree programs, including health sciences and engineering.

The proposal needs to be taken up with the government coronavirus task force and gets approval from President Rodrigo Duterte before implementation.

At the basic education education, the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes in 120 schools deemed low risk for COVID-19 will start on November 15.

Several groups have called for safe reopening of schools more than a year into the pandemic using #LigtasNaBalikEskwela. The government has been criticized for its pandemic response. Critics have said that school closure in the country reflects misplaced priorities and failed management of the health crisis.

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