THE COMMISSION on Higher Education on Thursday bucked calls to declare an academic break nationwide.

The commission said that such a move is not needed because more than a hundred universities have taken the initiative to declare a break amid the surge in Covid19 cases.

“Iyong panawagan ng academic break at panawagan na mag-declare ng nationwide academic break ang CHED, hindi na po kailangan ‘yan dahil kayang-kaya na ng ating mga pamantasan na gawin ‘yan on their own,” CHED chairman Chairman Prospero de Vera III said.

He explained that 126 universities declared a break.

“Noong nakitang aakyat ang Covid, kahit na hindi pa nga nasa Alert Level 3, iyong ibang lugar ay nag-declare sila ng academic break,” the CHED chief said in a public briefing.

Most of these universities are in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.

“Mayroon pang 123 universities doon sa aking meeting noong isang araw na mag-a-academic break din ngayong towards the end of January,” De Vera said.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers earlier called on the government to declare a 2-week “health break” in areas under Alert Level 3.

“Teachers and students alike are struggling to keep holding classes amid this Omicron-driven surge,” ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said in a statement.

“Either we’re sick or we’re taking care of family members who are. It’s only humane to give all of us a break amid this outbreak,” he added.