TO PREVENT further learning losses amid the pandemic, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines pushed for the immediate and safe resumption of face-to-face classes.

“We really need to go back to in-person classes but, of course, we have to prepare for the safety and security of our students. We cannot remain in the prolonged online classes because of the learning losses with the fully online delivery of education,” Cocopea Managing Director Joseph Noel Estrada said.

Estrada said that private institutions are also preparing for the expansion of the in-person classes following the guidelines of the Department of Health, Department of Education and Inter-Agency Task Force.

“We are in continuous dialogue with DepEd officials regarding the expansion of the limited face-to-face classes — there was a pilot run, now we’re expecting the expansion phase will happen in January 2022 — how to expand it with other grade levels and in other areas,” Estrada said.

He also stated that they are seeking the Commission on Higher Education’s help in assisting higher education institutions transition to face-to-face sessions through its flexible learning plan.

“What we want to address is the seamless transition to face-to-face classes, without too much regulation to help schools easily adapt. We want to find that flexibility with CHEd but we recognize that they still have a say on the conduct of classes,” Estrada said.