Months have already passed ever since the pandemic started. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, classes have been suspended, resulting to this year’s graduating students cancellation of graduation ceremonies.

This upcoming school year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), instructed the universities to move classes that requires the students’ physical appearance to the second semester. This is to avoid the possibility of contagion between the students and people inside the campus.

During the Malacañang briefing on Wednesday, Prospero de Vera stated, “Uutusan natin ‘yung mga universities na ‘yung lahat nung subjects na may [laboratory], OJT, internship etcetera, i-reschedule nila sa second semester.”

“Sa first sem, ang ituturo lang lahat ng mga klase na regular na pwede lectures, theoretical dun sa first sem. Imo-move on natin sa second semester yung kailangan pupunta [ang mga estudyante],” he added.

“Hindi kami nagbabago sa aming stand Mr. President na maximum August 24 talaga. Kasi sa batas, last day of August [ang re-opening]. So August 24 magbubukas na ng klase, whatever form it is. Ngayon, handang-handa na ang mga regions,” Secretary of the Department of Education, Leonor Briones said.

Department of Education also stated that more than 16 million students have already enrolled for this school year.