CHED Clarifies August Class Opening a ‘Recommendation Only’

August Class Opening Clarified by CHED as ‘Recommendation Only’ & Not Requirement

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) clarified that the August class opening was only a recommendation and not a requirement.

CHED issued a clarification on the controversial shift of the Academic Year to Fiscal Year moving the opening of class to August.

CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III explained that the previous memorandum announcing the movement of the academic year was just only a recommendation.

De Vera said that the commission cannot require schools to follow the recommendation since the school’s Board of Regents has the right to make the final decision.

However, the commission executive encourages the schools to follow the August class opening, which was allegedly supported by the Congress.

“In the 2019 GAA [General Appropriations Act], there is a provision by Congress asking CHED to facilitate the shift in academic calendar. The memo is in compliance with Congressional and Presidential directive,” De Vera said.

The memorandum dated April 5 declares that all state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) are enjoined to move the class opening on August.

The recommendation was in line with RA 7722 Section 3 stating “Higher education institutions shall start the school year on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.”

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