The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said colleges and universities should not open classes if they are not ready for the new normal in delivering education to students.
CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera earlier said Republic Act No. 7722, also known as the CHED law, gives colleges and universities the academic freedom, including the schedule of class opening.
“Sinasabihan namin paulit-ulit ‘yung mga pamantasan na i-review ‘yung level of preparation nila. Kung di sila handa, wag silang magbukas,” he told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
(We’ve reminded them again and again to review their level of preparation. If they’re not prepared, they should not open.)
“Inuulit ko ang abiso at utos sa mga pamantasan na i-review continuously iyong preparedness niyo, kung di pa handa, wag pipilitin dahil kawawa ang mag estudyante, kawawa ang guro.”
(Again, I advise and order universities to review their preparedness. If you’re not prepared, don’t push it because students and teachers will suffer.)
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CHED advises colleges not to open classes if not ready
CHED is studying how miscellaneous fees collected by private schools could be used for flexible learning as the Philippines battle COVID-19 pandemic, De Vera said.
“Gumawa kami ng listahan kung ano ‘yung gastusin sa flexible learning na pwedeng gamitin ng private schools ‘yung existing miscellaneous fees nila,” he said.
(We made a list of the cost of flexible learning that private schools can fund using their existing miscellaneous fee.)
“Ang requirement lang kailangan kausapin ang estudyante, magulang at ipaliwanag paano gagamitin ang miscellaneous fee na kinokolekta regularly.”
(The only requirement is universities will need to discuss to students and their parents how the fee will be used.)
CHED has also the stipend for the 1st semester of 2019-2020 and is awaiting funds for the second semester, De Vera said.
“Yung last tranche ng tertiary education subsidy para sa katatapos na semester ay nirequest na namin sa DBM. Pag dinownload ng DBM sa CHED, siguro pinakamatagal na yung 2 linggo nandyan na sa eskwelahan,” he said.
(The last tranche of tertiary education subsidy for the previous semester has been requested from the DBM. Once the DBM downloads it to CHED, the longest it will take is 2 weeks to reach the schools.)
“Humihingi kami ng pagunawa sa mga estudyante dahil tinamaan talaga ng COVID.”
(We ask patience from the students as operations were affected by COVID.)