CHED to continue flexible learning as a policy for HEIs

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said it will continue flexible learning as a policy in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) despite the resumption of limited face-to-face classes, according to Victoria Tulad’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.

“We will continue with flexible learning as a policy. So universities have the option on the delivery modes that they will use,” CHED chairperson Prospero De Vera III said.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said full implementation of face-to-face classes will not be fully implemented even until next year.

“You mean full face-to-face na anim na oras, walong oras ang teacher at mga bata nagkakaharap, hindi ‘yan posibleng mangyayari. Lahat ng bansa na binabantayan namin wala na yung notion na sinasabi nating full face-to-face, may blended component talaga,” Briones said.

(You mean full face-to-face classes for six hours or eight hours straight with teachers and students facing  each other, that's not possible. All countries we are monitoring no longer have the notion of full face-to-face, there is really a blended component of learning.)

Meanwhile, several students expressed their enthusiasm for the opening of limited face-to-face classes in some schools.

“Masaya po na may halong excitement and nakakakaba rin po. Nahihirapan na po ako sa online class dahil hindi ko po masyado maintindihan yung teacher,” student Daniela Blanco said.

(It is a mix of excitement and nervousness. I'm having a hard time in the online class because I do not understand the teacher.)

“May konting takot po kaya lang po fully vaccinated naman po siya,” Muffy Blanco, parent of Daniela, said.

(I’m afraid for her safety but she is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.)

The resumption of face-to-face classes is now under its expanded phase. As of Monday, the DepEd said a total of 1,726 schools have started their limited face-to-face classes.

According to DepEd, there are around 47,000 public schools and 12,000 private schools in the country.

With the de-escalation to Alert Level 1 in some areas, the DepEd is expecting that more schools will open limited in-person classes. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News