CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III says attendance in face-to-face classes remains optional for college students, so the unvaccinated may still choose flexible learning modes.
Sino ang gagastos ng[Translation: You know why you can’t join the vaccinated and unvaccinated? If you allow both, you will need testing requirements. Of course, you need to test the unvaccinated, and the question is, when will you test them? When will you do the follow-up test? Who will spend for this?]
Last month, the Inter-Agency Task Force allowed the conduct of limited face-to-face classes in all degree programs for colleges in areas under Alert Level 2, subject to the conditions set by the CHED. CHED also requires colleges to ensure that minimum health standards are observed, retrofit their facilities, and coordinate with the local governments.
De Vera noted that retrofitting the facilities does not mean constructing new ones; colleges just need to improve their facilities for the safety of students and faculty. He also said colleges need to coordinate with the local governments on the availability of public transportation for students and faculty.
The CHED said some colleges will start conducting limited in-person classes this month, while others chose to start in January 2022. In Eastern Visayas, three medical schools and a seminary are already conducting limited face-to-face class.