Colleges, universities can shift to online classes amid fuel price hikes—CHED
Colleges and universities may shift classes to online amid the national emergency crisis, according to the Commission on Higher Education.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis told reporters that the agency already has policy and guidelines for online distance education learning (ODEL) under Memorandum Order No. 12, s. 2025. Under this, a higher education institution (HEI) can apply to be recognized and credited as a school that can deliver pure distance learning.
"Nangyari na po 'yan noong [COVID-19] pandemic[,]" she said, adding that private HEIs were allowed to hold 50% online classes with 50% face-to-face ones, while government-funded universities held 75% face-to-face and 25% online classes.
"[It's] a different pandemic we're facing now," Agrupis continued, referring to the energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. "That's why we just approved yesterday (April 6), that we are giving the full flexibility of all higher education institutions to adhere to the previously issued COVID-19 pandemic CMO."
She also noted that HEIs must still apply to be certified for the ODEL program.
"This is just a step-gap mechanism to address the crisis in transportation, electricity costs, and so on."
"If they (HEIs) want, after this crisis or even within [it], if they see it more fitting for them to transform online, we have a set of guidelines na na-issue na on the ODEL."
Qualifications for HEIs to apply for accreditations to offer ODEL programs include the following: with CHED-recognized programs, qualified based on capability self-assessment using the ODEL forms in CMO No. 12, s. 2025, and with 51% or more of the program's total course units delivered through ODEL modalities.
Earlier in March, President Ferdinand Marcos urged government agencies to adopt a four-day onsite work arrangement through a compressed workweek or a designated common day for work-from-home arrangements via Memorandum Circular 114. This is to reduce building energy load and transport fuel use.
