CHED permits shift to full online classes amid energy crisis

In response to the recently declared state of national energy emergency, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has granted all higher education institutions (HEIs) the option to shift to 100 percent online classes as deemed necessary.

CHED issued the new advisory through Memorandum from the Office of the Chairperson (No. 117, s. 2026) to provide guidance in the implementation of ‘flexible learning’ for colleges and universities amid rising fuel prices. 

“During the national energy emergency, HEls may adopt up to 100% online delivery as necessary and as a temporary arrangement, subject to institutional capacity and student readiness and notification to the CHEDRO (CHED Regional Office) concerned,” the memorandum read.

Laboratory and skill-based courses, however, are advised to still conduct classes onsite or through appropriate alternative modalities to ensure the delivery of learning outcomes.

Moreover, in implementing flexible learning, the memo stated that HEIs must evaluate factors determining their institutional capacity and student readiness, including device accessibility, connectivity, and learning support.

CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis, in an interview with reporters, described the directive as a “stop-gap mechanism” to address the crisis on transportation and electricity costs.

Agrupis clarified, however, that schools currently opting for full distance learning are not automatically certified to offer such arrangements.

“We are encouraging them [to shift to online learning] for now, but it should not sacrifice the intended outcome of the program,” she told reporters, “If they see it more fitting for them to transfer to online, we have a set of guidelines na na-issue na.”

She also noted that the memo is similar to the one issued during the COVID-19 pandemic six years ago, which permitted colleges to implement a blended learning scheme.

“We are giving full flexibility of all higher education institutions to adhere to the previously issued COVID-19 pandemic CMO (CHED Memorandum Order), but on top of that, depending on their perceived readiness to offer the pure online (classes), sila na lang ang mag-de-determine (they will have to determine),” she said.

On March 24, under Executive Order (EO) 110, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national emergency to mitigate potential risks in fuel supply and address issues in the energy sector.