Ched to Isabela college: Stop face-to-face classes

By Raymund Catindig

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela -- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has issued a show cause order against a college here for conducting face-to-face classes.
    CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera directed the Isabela Colleges to stop holding physical classes, saying it is in violation of the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
    The college was directed to explain within 10 days why it should not be sanctioned for failure to comply with CHED advisories on the conduct of physical classes.
    De Vera said a post graduate student who attended the classes tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019.
Two other students reportedly contracted the virus and were quarantined along with 43 others who were exposed to the patient.
    De Vera said the school administration confirmed that it conducted Saturday classes as orientation for students taking professional education courses.
    “The CHED advisories have consistently advised HEIs (higher education institutions) from conducting face-to-face or in-person classes or mass gatherings in their campuses. This has been disseminated in print and broadcast media and in several Zoom meetings with HEIs considering the threat of community transmission due to mass gathering of students,” De Vera said.
    He said CHED has yet to issue a policy on the conduct of face-to-face classes in low-risk areas as consultations are ongoing.
    In May, CHED issued an advisory prohibiting academic institutions from holding mass gatherings, such as graduation ceremonies among other physical activities.
    In a statement on Wednesday, CHED Chairman De Vera III said the city health officials of Cauayan are now tracing 45 contacts of the student, identified by the local health department as “CV969,” who is taking professional educational courses in Isabela Colleges.
    De Vera said the CHED Regional Office II confirmed that the HEI started conducting its series of orientations on August 29 which was attended by CV969. Isabela Colleges also admitted that it held Saturday classes for Certificate in Professional Education (CPE) programs effective August 24 to serve as the orientation sessions of the students.
    De Vera said the Commission has not issued any policy to allow face-to-face classes, while the IATF clearly stated that limited face-to-face classes in low-risk MGCQ areas must comply with CHED guidelines.
    “The CHED advisories have consistently advised HEIs to refrain from conducting face-to-face or in-person classes or mass gatherings on their campuses. This has been disseminated in the print and broadcast media and in several zoom meetings with HEIs considering the threat of community transmission due to the mass gathering of students,” De Vera said.