Academic break has been imposed by 126 universities, mostly in Metro Manila and nearby Calabarzon region since the first week of January amid the surge of COVID-19 cases, the Commission on Higher Education said Thursday.
Commission on Higher Education chairperson Prospero De Vera III told the Laging Handa public briefing the break was declared even before the raising of Alert Level 3 in some areas.
In the basic education level, meanwhile, the Department of Education has allowed regional and schools division offices to suspend classes this January amid the COVID surge.
In Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno declared Thursday a “health break” for students and teachers in both public and private schools in Manila from January 14 to 21, 2022.
In a press conference, Moreno announced that there would be no classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Manila to reduce the anxiety level of the teachers and students following the rise of COVID-19 infections.
“To reduce the anxiety level of our teachers and for them to relax. I know most of them are teaching online despite being infected. Teachers and parents can rest and reduce their anxiety level because their child is absent from online class due to COVID-19 infection,” Moreno said.