As the pandemic abates, the country piloted limited face-to-face classes in November last year — ending the 2 years of full distance learning.
In 2022, the implementation continued despite the unstable alert of COVID-19 in the country.
In this article, DZRH News Online will look back on this year's highlights on the limited to full resumption of in-person classes in the Philippines.
Delayed face-to-face class resumption
With the initial plan of starting in January, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Prospero De Vera III ordered the moving of limited face-to-face classes in public universities in the National Capital Region (NCR) as the region is under Alert 3.
From the initial plan of January 13, it was then slated for a later date in February onwards.
In some regions, face-to-face classes were also delayed due to Typhoon Odette and the spread of the Omicron variant.
The Department of Education (DepEd) then proposed the expansion of limited face-to-face classes by the first week of February in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2 — only allowing vaccinated individuals to participate in the reopening.
The notion by the department was supported by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian saying expansion should already begin for the recovery of the education sector of the country.
School Calendar for AY 2022-2023
DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio presented the proposed school calendar, with more face-to-face classes, which will include 203 days and will end on July 7, 2023 — having 11 weeks per quarter.
The first quarter is set from August 22 to November 5, 2022; the second quarter from November 7, 2022, to February 3, 2023; the third quarter from February 13 to April 28, 2023, and the fourth quarter from May 2 to July 7, 2023.
Christmas break started on December 19, 2022, and classes will resume on January 2, 2023. A mid-year break is also scheduled from February 6 to 10, 2023 while end-of-year rites will be held from July 10 to 14, 2023.
VP Sara Duterte as DepEd Sec
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte considered the successful resumption of face-to-face classes as one of her achievements during her first 100 days in office.
To recall, the VP ordered the full resumption of face-to-face classes last November 2.
This was backed by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. as he mentioned in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) the plans on pursuing another rollout of booster shots against COVID-19 ahead of the opening of the School Year 2022-2023.
Along with this, the Department of Health (DOH) also required all public and private schools nationwide to transition to five days of face-to-face classes.
The department gave schools “ample time to slowly transition” into the five-day in-person classes by implementing any of the following options: Five days of face-to-face classes, Blended learning (three days of in-person classes and 2 days of distance learning, or 4 days of in-person classes and 1 day of distance learning), and full distance learning.
Reported COVID cases
The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 3,900 students aged 12 to 17 years old have been infected by COVID-19 since in-person classes started in September — with mild and not severe cases.
However, there were no changes in the learning set-up as the Health OIC asserted that the benefits of in-person classes ”outweigh” the number of infections that had been experienced by students.
CHED allows unvaxxed personnel
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) removed the COVID-19 vaccination requirement — allowing vaccinated and unvaccinated college students and personnel to attend face-to-face classes.
The Department of Health (DOH) expressed its support for the CHED’s revised policy as data indicated that compared to the other age group, there is less infection in the age group of 18-25 — the average age of tertiary students.
However, the department still urged all eligible individuals to get their vaccination and boosters.
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines (UP) announced the implementation of 100% face-to-face classes in all its undergraduate courses in the second semester of the current academic year AY 2022-2023 — following CHED’s order to higher education institutions (HEIs) to stop full online classes and offer onsite or hybrid learning modes.
CHED chairman Prospero 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 grounded as a result of recovery measures from the impact of COVID-19.”
