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Colleges and universities in the country were given permission to shift to 100% online classes, this is because of the ongoing fuel and power crisis linked to the war in the Middle East.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has said that per existing guidelines, a university has to apply for permission before they can be recognized and get credited as a school who can deliver pure distance learning.
However, the government agency has decided to lift the restrictions. In other words, they can switch to full online learning if they have the capacity almost immediately.
CHED noted that per previous 50-50 arrangement, 50% of classes should be held online while the remaining 50% will be held face to face for higher education institutions; and 75% face to face and 25% online for state universities and colleges.
CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis has said that the online learning option is temporary crisis-response and seeks to address the immediate logistical challenges posed by the fuel crisis.
“We just approved yesterday (April 6) that we are giving full flexibility of all higher education institution to adhere to the previously issued COVID-19 pandemic CMO.”
She continued, “But on top of that, depending on their perceived readiness to offer the pure online, sila na iyong magde-determine.”
Agrupis said the new order is part of the agency’s “Academic Sustainability Plan,” which is anchored on the flexible learning methods first widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This policy, she added, seeks to help higher education institutions maintain academic operations as costs of fuel and electricity surges because of the ongoing crisis.
Agrupis emphasized that with the new policy, learning outcomes must not be compromised.
Further saying, courses with laboratory requirements are already addressed under specific provisions of CHED’s earlier memorandum order.
Sources: ABS-CBN News, Tribune, Brigada News
