FOR the government to successfully implement face-to-face classes, schools and communities must have high vaccination rates, the Commission on Higher Education said on Friday.

“Ang konseptong ‘yan, hindi lang low-risk areas ang kailangan. Kailangan ay mataas ang vaccination rate ng student, faculty, employees at mataas ang vaccination rate doon sa lugar —  sa paligid ng eskwelahan,” CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III said.

“Kasi hindi puwedeng eskwelahan lang ang titingnan mo. Dahil ang mga estudyante ay magbibiyahe papunta sa kanilang bahay at eskwelahan — pati ang mga kanilang kaklase. Sasakay ng public transportation ‘yan. Nabakunahan na ba lahat ang mga tricycle at jeepney drivers?” he added.

De Vera noted that it is important to have a “thorough meeting” with local government units before allowing the holding of physical classes.

“Kasi alam ninyo po kapag may nagkasakit dyan, ang sasagot diyan ay hindi lamang ang eskwelahan, local government din. Kasama sila sa pagko-contact trace, magpapa-quarantine din ang mga estudyante,” he stressed. “So, kung hindi kumbinsido at hindi natin kasama ang local government sa pagpaplano, mahirap po agad-agad na buksan ang mga pamantasan.”

The commission and the Inter-Agency Task Force are drafting the guidelines for the gradual reopening of schools in areas with low Covid19 risk. De Vera said the guidelines may be finalized by November or December.

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

“Kasi mababa pa ang vaccination level ng mga estudyante, 27% pa lang. Hindi natin puwedeng isugal ang kalagayan ng mga estudyante at kalagayan ng kanilang mga pamilya kung mababa ang level ng vaccination,” De Vera said.

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 F2F classes as of October.