UNIVERSITIES and colleges in Metro Manila may soon hold physical classes for all degree programs.

The Commission on Higher Education is studying the possibility of expanding the conduct of face-to-face classes to include all students as the vaccination rate against Covid19 continues to rise.

“We are now exploring the possibilities that in areas where the Covid19 cases are low and the vaccination rates are high, we might open face-to-face classes for all degree programs,” CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III said.

He said that the resumption of in-person classes is “more possible” if the vaccination turnout in the education sector as well as those in communities near the schools is relatively high.

“Metro Manila is a prime candidate for this,” the CHED chief pointed out.

De Vera earlier said that the commission and the Inter-Agency Task Force are drafting the guidelines for the gradual reopening of schools in areas with low Covid19 risk and high vaccination rates.

He noted that the guidelines may be finalized by November or December.

If the Covid19 situation improves, F2F classes “are likely possible” by January 2022.

Currently, in-person classes are only allowed in select degree programs like health and science, technology and engineering, tourism and hospitality management and maritime.

At least 181 higher education institutions nationwide have been authorized by CHED and the Department of Health to conduct limited in-person classes.