A GROUP of private school administrators on Wednesday said that higher education institutions must have safeguards and contingency plans if face-to-face classes will resume.

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) said that opening the campuses to students again is easy but what is difficult is making a contingency plan for the possible resurgence of cases.

“Ang isang malaking tinitingnan d’yan hindi ‘yung readiness sa pagbubukas kundi ‘yung ano ang mangyayari kung magkaroon ng transmission, ‘yung resurgence, dahil madaling magbukas,” COCOPEA Managing Director Joseph Noel Estrada said.

Estrada added that schools should immediately coordinate with local government units if such incidents would happen.

He also ruled out the need to test students.

“If we’re not requiring that in all industries or sectors, why would we require that for education? Baka prohibitive ito sa estudyante, may cost ‘yun eh. May mekanismo dapat na mati-trigger bago i-require,” he said.

Several schools plan to hold limited face-to-face classes in January.

Previously, the Commission on Higher Education inspected retrofitted classrooms at the Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela City to determine its readiness for face-to-face classes.