Colleges and universities are excluded from the acandemic calendar shift in the basic and secondary level, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said after the Department of Education (DepEd) announced the delay in the opening of classes to Oct. 5.
CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera said higher education institutions are covered by a different law—Republic Act No. 7722 or the CHED law—which allows colleges and universities to have a freehand on their academic calendars.
“Universities open their school year, as approved by their board, depending on the way they structure their semester,” De Vera said in an interview on CNN Philippines.
Instead of the Aug. 24 opening of classes, DepEd announced on Friday that primary and secondary schools would have to delay the start of their academic calendars to Oct 5.
The DepEd cited the reimposition of the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the change, saying this affected preparations for blended learning.
The shift in the academic calendar was made possible by Republic Act No. 1148 which allows the President to change the opening of the school year. The law, according to De Vera, excludes universities and colleges since it only covers the K-12 system.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones had also said that elementary and secondary schools attached to universities and colleges are not covered by the delay in the opening of classes.
Photo via Febias College of Bible
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