Tertiary schools in Yolanda-hit areas told to reopen on Jan. 15

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reminded yesterday more than 400 tertiary schools in areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda last month to resume operations on Jan. 15.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro, meanwhile, said more than 90 percent of public elementary and secondary schools in Yolanda-hit areas have resumed classes this month.

CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan issued “temporary cessation of operations” of all higher education institutions, both private and public, in Region 8, some portions of Regions 6 and 7, and other areas similarly devastated by Yolanda last Nov. 13.

CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo, however, said some schools in Samar and Leyte – the two provinces hardest hit by Yolanda – are unlikely to resume classes by Jan. 15. 

CHED and DepEd have issued separate orders, instructing all schools to accept transferees from Yolanda-hit areas even if they have insufficient credentials.

Luistro encouraged teachers to immediately resume classes even in makeshift classrooms as this would help the students recover faster from trauma.

More than 20,000 public elementary and secondary schools in the Visayas were destroyed by Yolanda, which struck Eastern Visayas on Nov. 8, Luistro said.