CHED temporarily bans internship programs this 2020

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has temporarily prohibited student internship or on-the-job training programs as the country continues to grapple with COVID-19.

“Bawal muna ang internship at OJT hanggang quarantine kasama dito ang mga sports activities na malakihan. Hindi magagawa ‘yan hanggang 2020 dahil sa prohibition sa mass gathering (Internships and OJTs along with large sports activities are banned under quarantine. These are banned because of the prohibition on mass gathering),” CHED chairperson Prospero De Vera said.

He also said the absence of sports activities, internships and OJT programs might help reduce tuition fees both in private and public tertiary schools for this school year nationwide.

De Vera added that some universities applied for tuition fee hikes that were to take effect this month, but he decided to review their applications in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said some schools have already adjusted their tuition fees beforehand, but others opted to keep their fees unchanged.

“Noong tumama ang COVID sinabihan ang lahat na nag apply, we asked them if sila ba ay tutuloy sa kanilang applications, but some big universities hindi na nag apply at sinauli na ang kanilang application (When COVID hit, we asked all schools if they will continue with their tuition hike applications, but some big universities withdrew their applications),” he said.  

Some parents asked if they can file complaints against private schools taking advantage of the COVID crisis, De Vera told them to discuss the issue first with the management of the concerned schools before raising a complaint to CHED.

He said CHED will only intervene if the issue cannot be resolved between the school and the parents.