TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 27 (PIA) -- The government will allow the reopening of limited face-to-face (F2F) classes for higher educational institutions (HEI) by December 2021, as proposed by concerned government agencies.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health have earlier issued a Joint Memorandum Circular No 2021-001 which set the guidelines for school administrators and officials on the gradual reopening of campuses of HEIs for limited F2F classes during the pandemic.

The guidelines serve as the framework for HEIs that are willing to assume the responsibilities for the reopening of the campuses and intending to hold limited F2F classes. 

Part of the responsibilities for the reopening of their campuses for F2F classes include the capacity of the HEI system to comply with the health and safety protocols, retrofit their facilities, and earn the support of stakeholders primarily the local government unit upon whose area of responsibility the HEI belongs.

Based on another document, the Guidelines on the Nationwide Implementation of Alert Levels System for COVID-19 Response, it allowed F2F classes under Alert Levels 1, 2 and 3, subject to certain conditions.

These conditions include 50% indoor venue capacity, participation of fully vaccinated teaching and non-teaching personnel and students only and no opposition from the local government unit concerned.

The government insists that the continued implementation of proactive measures and restrictions must be put in place to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases, stop further spread of variants, buy time for the health system to cope, and protect more lives.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, mandated to device ways to prevent and minimize the entry of suspected or confirmed patients with emerging infectious diseases into the country, passed Resolution No. 148-G Series of 2021 on Nov. 16. 

The resolution approved and adopted the proposed Phased Implementation of Limited Face-to-Face Classes for All Programs under the Alert Levels 1 System for COVID-19 Response of CHED.

As such, it allows for CHED to implement the said program under the proposed two phases to ensure the safe reopening of campuses.

The two phases include the implementation beginning December 2021 onwards for all HEIs in areas under Alert Level 2, which applied for F2F classes.

By next year, Phase 2 starts by January 2022 onwards for all HEIs in areas under Alert Level 3.  (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)