The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has ordered higher education institutions (HEIs) to stop full online classes and offer onsite or hybrid learning modes starting the second semester of the school year 2022-2023.
CHED chairman Propero de Vera III issued 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 commission stated in its Memorandum Order No. 16.
According to CHED, for HEIs that want to implement hybrid learning, at least 50% of total contact time should be spent on-site, with the remainder spent through printed or online modules, synchronous or asynchronous classes, and remote-guided learning approaches, among others.
For a three-unit course that requires at least 54 contact hours, 27 hours should be spent at a physical learning facility, it added.
The commission also noted that the National Service Training Program (NSTP) should be conducted onsite but it can also be supplemented by other flexible learning strategies.
Laboratories shall also be held onsite along with on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs. However, in case partner training establishments have remote work modalities, equivalent hours shall be included in total training hours.
CHED said colleges and universities are enjoined to "adopt the following guidelines in transitioning towards onsite learning within the context of sustaining flexible learning and safe and healthy learning and working spaces."
