CHED ordered all HEIs to observe their existing guidelines on class suspensions during calamities
CHED — On Tuesday, the Commission on Higher Education ordered all HEIs (higher education institutions) to observe their existing guidelines on class suspensions during calamities in the event of power interruptions and natural disasters.
“Until the amendment or revocation of the said Executive Order and CMO No. 15, Series of 2012, CHED instructs all HEIs to observe these guidelines in their respective campuses,” said CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III.
De Vera issued the statement following the “confusion” brought by the releasing of the revised DepEd Order (DO) 37, allowing for the automatic cancellation of classes from kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12), and work in public schools in areas under any public storm signals raised by PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration).
DO 37 likewise called for class suspension in K-12 in schools situated in areas issued with a red or orange rainfall warning, or flood warning from PAGASA; or affected by an earthquake with PEIS (PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale) V or above.
With this, De Vera stressed that higher education institutions have long been guided by Executive Order No. 66, Series of 2012, as well as the CMO (CHED Memorandum Order) No. 15, Series of 2012, with regard to class suspension because of flooding, typhoons, and other calamities and weather disturbances.
CMO 15 stated that classes at the collegiate level — including graduate school — in the affected area are automatically suspended or cancelled when Signal No. 3 is raised by PAGASA and announced through different media outlets.
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Also, CMO 15 stated that classes at the collegiate level — including graduate school — may be suspended or cancelled at the discretion of the local chief executives of LGUs (local government units) and/or heads of HEIs if special circumstances in their area such as road damage, flooding, etc. warrant it. In addition, HEIs are also advised to monitor NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) announcements where calamities and disasters are present.
DO 37 indicated that community learning centers, private schools, state and local universities and colleges (SUCs and LUCs) have the option whether or not to abide by its provisions as it only pertained to public schools.
Also mentioned in DO 37 that there will be no automatic class suspension if there are power interruptions or outages in schools, but school officials are given discretion to cancel classes if such power outages or interruptions result in a “poor learning environment”.
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