by Merlina Hernando-Malipot, Manila Bulletin
Amid the surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said that at least 260 higher education institutions have declared and will declare academic break.
During President Duterte’s Talk to the People on Jan. 17, CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera said that a total of 134 universities and colleges have declared an academic break from Jan. 1 to 13.
Of this number, 16 HEIs are located in the National Capital Region (NCR) and 53 HIEs in Region IV-A. These regions have been placed under Alert Level 3 status due to the high number of COVID-19 infections.
De Vera said that a total of 126 HEIs have also expressed “intention to declare academic break” this January 2022.
Meanwhile, he noted that there were no HEIs in regions V, VIII, X, XII, and Mimaropa have declared academic break.
De Vera explained that the policy on declaring academic breaks “has always been a decision of individual HEIs.”
The decision whether or not an HEI will declare academic break should be based on health conditions on the grounds, the situation of their students and faculty, their academic calendar, learning continuity plans, and consultation with local government units (LGUs).
“It is their respective boards who discuss this,” De Vera added.
