A senator on Friday urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to establish clear benchmarks and a defined review timeline for the implementation of full online classes among higher education institutions (HEIs).

Senator Pia Cayetano said that while allowing HEIs to shift to 100 percent online classes is meant to ensure learning continuity and support energy conservation amid the ongoing fuel and power crisis, safeguards must be put in place to ensure the policy remains temporary.

Cayetano emphasized the need for measurable indicators to assess whether students are effectively learning under the online setup.

“Recent assessments show that learning gaps remain a serious concern across the education system, and with any shift in modality, we must first ensure that our students are truly learning,” she said.

Without proper monitoring, she said, the temporary measure could become normalized, citing lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic when emergency learning modalities persisted longer than intended.

The senator likewise flagged the risk of widening inequality among students, noting that not all learners have access to stable Internet connectivity, appropriate devices, or conducive learning environments at home.

“We cannot ignore the risk that prolonged or widespread reliance on fully online modalities may further widen existing learning gaps, especially for students who may not have equal access to technology, stable connectivity, or a conducive learning environment at home,” she said.

Cayetano reiterated that face-to-face learning remains essential for students’ academic performance and overall development, including discipline and engagement.

She called on CHED and HEIs to regularly review the policy based on clear learning outcomes and ensure that the shift to full online classes is strictly treated as an emergency response rather than a long-term standard. (PNA)