COMMISSION on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera III said yesterday that proponents for the ‘academic freeze’ should file a formal petition if they want to postpone this academic year.

Chairman De Vera said those groups calling for the halt of this year’s classes should also include a study along with their petition in order to suspend the school year.

“I suggest those who are proposing any change in the academic policy, do a serious study, compute the cost, look at options, look at the parameters and submit it to the commission,” the CHED chief said in a press conference.

He also urged universities and colleges to implement flexible learning depending on the resources available for students and teachers.

These methods include online video classes and printed or digital modules.

Earlier, the Department of Education has rejected the calls for an academic freeze saying the proposal is short-sighted and did not consider the long-term effects on students.

Youth organization Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an Executive Order to postpone the academic year to January 2021.

SPARK chairperson John Lazaro said Duterte has made statements about postponing classes until a cure for Covid19 is found.

Social media users recently have been calling for an academic freeze, as many students are unprepared to the shift into online learning.