An organization of privately owned colleges and universities maintained that changes in the instruction system should be implemented next school year.
The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Association of the Philippines (COCOPEA) took the position amid debates on whether the schools could adopt full face-to-face classes, or offer hybrid learning module during the second semester of the current school year as mandated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
COCOPEA spokesman Noel Estrada said in a GMA radio interview that there is not enough time this school year to adopt the policy changes on the teaching modalities, specifically the physical presence of the students in the classrooms.
CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III issued on Wednesday Memorandum Order No. 16, allowing “the disposition towards transitioning to the safe return to physical campuses and bringing back learners to school is ground as a result of recovery measures from the impact of COVID-19.”
“Unless there is an approval from the Commission on Higher Education, an HEI cannot offer its recognized degree programs in full distance learning delivery including online modality,” the memorandum stated.
“For HEI’s (higher education institutions) that will opt to deliver their degree programs in hybrid learning mode, at least 50% of the total contact time should be spent on onsite learning experiences,” it added.
Estrada argued that the gains made in using digital learning platforms should not be sacrificed in the effort to fulfill the latest CHED order.
“Marami nang ginawang paghahanda ang mga estudyante at guro para sa hybrid learning… baka magulo ang entire system kapag ipinatupad agad ang mandatory face-to-face classes sa kolehiyo,” he said.
“‘Yung mga investment on resources, training faculty, learning gains, maaaring masakripisyo kapag ginawa nang mandatory ang full face-to-face classes sa HEIs,” Estrada added.
De Vera’s memo also mandated that laboratory courses, on-the-job training (OJT), and National Service Training Program activities should also be held primarily onsite.
“Unless there is an approval from the Commission on Higher Education, an HEI cannot offer its recognized degree programs in full distance learning delivery including fully online modality,” it added.
CHED said colleges and universities will no longer be allowed to implement full distance learning starting the second semester of Academic Year 2022-2023.
Colleges and universities that will deliver degree programs through hybrid learning must allot “at least 50 percent of the total contact time” for onsite classes.
The remaining contact time can be delivered through distance learning modalities.
HEIs intending to implement distance learning as well as transnational education must first secure CHED’s approval.