BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela: A private higher education institution (HEI) in this city was ordered to stop its “face-to-face” classes after a student was tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
This led to the tracing up to 45 contacts of the said student identified by the Department of Health in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley).
“Isabela Colleges should immediately stop conducting face-to-face classes until the issuance of CHEd [Commission on Higher Education] Guidelines,” Dr. J. Prospero De Vera 3rd, CHEd chairman, said in a press release.
Dr. De Vera issued the order upon completion of CHEd fact-finding report which said it will issue a show-cause order on the alleged violations by the Isabela Colleges, Inc. (ICI) of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and CHEd advisories.
The CHEd report said the student identified as CV 969 attended on August 29 an orientation conducted by the HEI intended for the post-Baccalaureate students. CV969 was also identified as an employee of the local government unit of this city taking continuing professional education (CPE) courses in Isabela Colleges.
According to CHEd Region 2 office, Isabela Colleges has reportedly conducted Saturday classes for the CPE program effective August 24 to serve as the orientation sessions of the students.
In the press release, Dr. De Vera said CHEd advisories have consistently advised HEIs to refrain from conducting face-to-face or in-person classes or mass gatherings on their campuses.
“This has been disseminated in the print and broadcast media and in several zoom meetings with HEIs considering the threat of community transmission due to the mass gathering of students,” Dr. De Vera said.
He said CHEd has not issued any policy to allow face-to-face classes and the Inter-Agency Task Force clearly states that limited face-to-face classes in low risk modified general community quarantine areas must comply with CHEd guidelines.
He also noted that on May 24, the commission also issued CHEd Covid Advisory No. 7. Under Section A (f), that mass gatherings are prohibited and that HEIs are prevented from conducting in-person graduation ceremonies and other school activities until the prohibition for mass gathering is lifted.
De Vera said CHEd will issue a show-cause order for the Isabela Colleges, giving 10 days from now why no sanctions should be imposed upon its officials, teaching or non-teaching personnel for its failure to comply with CHEd’s directives and advisories.