CHED Lets Colleges Go Fully Online to Ease Student Costs

Parents and students may soon see more flexibility in higher education, as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has approved a policy allowing colleges and universities to shift to 100% online classes in response to the ongoing fuel and power crisis linked to the Middle East conflict.

The policy is part of CHED’s “Academic Sustainability Plan,” a temporary measure that builds on the flexible learning rules used during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also supports the government’s energy conservation efforts under Memorandum Circular No. 114, which encourages institutions to adopt energy-saving practices amid rising fuel costs.

CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis emphasized that moving fully online does not automatically mean a school is accredited for formal distance learning under CHED’s existing Online Distance Education Learning (ODEL) framework.

“There are some procedures and requirements for a university to apply so that they will be recognized and credited as a school who can deliver pure distance learning,” Agrupis told ABS-CBN News.

During the pandemic, private universities operated under a 50-50 mix of online and face-to-face classes, while state universities used a 75% in-person and 25% online model. The new policy removes these ceilings, allowing schools to transition fully online if they have the resources and readiness to do so.

“We just approved yesterday (April 6) that we are giving the full flexibility of all higher education institution to adhere to the previously issued COVID-19 pandemic CMO. But on top of that, depending on their perceived readiness to offer the pure online, sila na iyong mag-de-determine,” she said.

“But it does not necessarily mean that if they offer na 100% online teaching and learning management system, ay hindi ibig sabihin na automatic na certified na sila for the ODEL program,” she added.

Agrupis noted that the move is intended to reduce the burden on students and teachers, particularly when it comes to commuting and electricity expenses. She stressed that schools should implement full online learning only if they have the necessary IT infrastructure and faculty trained to teach in a digital environment.

Learning outcomes must remain the priority, and CHED clarified that courses requiring labs or hands-on activities have specific provisions under existing guidelines. The flexibility is not a one-time policy—it reactivates and expands an existing framework to help schools navigate current and future energy challenges.

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