THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched) will allow unvaccinated students, teachers and non-teaching staff to participate in face-to-face classes, its chairperson Prospero de Vera III announced Monday, August 29, 2022.De Vera said they revised the guidelines for the conduct of in-person classes that were issued in November 2021 prohibiting unvaccinated students and teachers from taking part in the in-person classes.He said among their primary considerations were the “significant increase” in the vaccination coverage in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), the low-risk classification for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country, and the decreasing infections.“Based on the data reported by our public and private universities, in higher education, we have a very high vaccination rate, as high as 90 percent for HEI personnel, and close to 80 percent or about 77 percent for our students,” said De Vera.De Vera said that when they issued the guidelines in November, only 40 percent of students and 70 percent of school staff were vaccinated.He commended the schools and institutions for their efforts to encourage students and teachers and other staff to get vaccinated against Covid-19.De Vera said they will continue their coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) to boost vaccination campaigns in schools.But De Vera reminded the strict adherence to minimum health protocols during the conduct of full face-to-face classes, especially the wearing of face masks and observance of physical distancing.He said schools, universities and institutions were given a free hand to impose their respective protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus.The government has imposed limited face-to-face classes in selected areas in the country since November 2021.The country’s educational system shifted to distance learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (SunStar Philippines)