TWENTY-FOUR higher education institutions (HEIs) were granted permission to conduct limited face-to-face classes during the second semester of school year 2020-2021, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said on Friday, March 26.

ChEd Chairman Prospero De Vera III said the 24 HEIs have fully complied with the guidelines set by ChEd and Department of Health as well as met “stringent retrofitting and health standards” to prevent the spread of the virus while conducting hands-on training and laboratory classes in a limited face-to-face system.

These are:

• Mariano Marcos State University - Batac (Ilocos)

• St. Louis University (CAR)

• Our Lady of Fatima University - City of San Fernando (Central Luzon)

• Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (NCR)

• University of Santo Tomas (NCR)

• University of East Ramon Magsaysay (NCR)

• Our Lady of Fatima University - Quezon City (NCR)

• Our Lady of Fatima University - Valenzuela City (NCR)

• Manila Central University (NCR)

• Adventist University of the Philippines (Calabarzon)

• De La Salle Health and Medical Science Institute

• University of Perpetual Help - Don Jose

• Our Lady of Fatima University - Sta. Rosa

• Naga College Foundation (Bicol)

• West Visayas State University (Western Visayas)

• Central Philippine University (Western Visayas)

• Cebu Institute of Medicine (Central Visayas)

• University of Cebu School of Medicine (Central Visays)

• Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine (Western Visayas)

• University of Iloilo (Western Visayas)

• Blancia Foundation College, Inc. (Zamboanga)

• Xavier University (Northern Mindanao)

• Liceo de Cagayan University (Northern Mindanao)

• University of the Philippines-Manila

De Vera said ChEd officials together with the local government executives inspected the facilities to ensure readiness and capacity to hold physical classes for 3rd and 4th year students.

Face-to-face classes are prioritized for health-related courses such as Medicine, Nursing, Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, Physical Therapy, Midwifery, and Public Health to boost the country’s health system amid the pandemic. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)