The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said that 424 college students might lose their scholarships due to the “pass all” policy some schools implemented during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement on Wednesday, August 12, CHED called on 17 schools to provide numerical grades to the students so they can still claim benefits under the CHED Merit Scholarship Program (CMSP).

“The problem was caused by HEIs (higher education institutions) who did a ‘pass all’ policy in their 2nd semester. I made it very clear in CHED announcements that while the grading system of HEIs are determined and exercised by individual HEIs in the exercise of their academic freedom, any decision to adopt a ‘pass all’ policy must ensure that the interests of individual students are not compromised,” said CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III.

CHED explained that unlike its Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong sholarship grants, CMSP is given to students based on academic performance and they have to maintain a general weighted average of at least 85% or its equivalent if they are full scholars or 80% or its equivalent if they are not under a full scholarship program. (READ: CHED releases P6 billion stipends for college students)

De Vera said that CHED had warned the schools in June that the “pass all” policy could affect students who are on merit scholarship and need numeric grades.

“Applicants are ranked based on their Grade Point Average and those with the highest grades get the merit scholarship. If the HEIs will not give them numeric grades, what will be the basis to determine if the students will get financial assistance from the government?” De Vera asked.

CHED said they had written to the presidents of these 17 HEIs to give the scholars and grantees numeric grades immediately:

• Saint Mary’s University
• Bataan Heroes Memorial College 
• De La Salle University – Dasmariñas
• STI College Rosario
• University of the Philippines Los Baños
• Cavite State University
• Mary Help of Christians College-Salesians Sisters Inc.
• Ateneo de Naga University
• Partido College
• Pili Capital College, Inc.
• Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology
• University of the Philippines-Visayas
• Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
• Mindanao State University- Naawan
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Sta. Mesa, Manila
• University of Baguio
• Mindanao State University – Marawi

CHED said it has given the schools until October 30, 2020 to submit the student numeric grades to its regional offices for evaluation.

In April, students and several campus organizations, including those from the University of the Philippines, had called on colleges and universities to implement mass promotion of students amid the ongoing health crisis. (READ: Netizens debate mass promotion of students amid coronavirus pandemic)

CHED then said it would be up to universities and colleges to decide on the matter. Explaining why CHED did not release any guidelines on mass promotion that time, De Vera said that “there are more than 1,900 universities and colleges in the country with different academic calendars and policies.” (READ: Mass promotion of students up to universities, colleges – CHED)

In a statement on Saturday, August 15, CHED said it was informed that Ateneo de Naga University did not solely implement a “pass all” policy. Students were given the option to get either a non-numerical grade or a passing grade.

Meanwhile, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas also did not implement an “all pass” policy. Each department in the university was given the liberty to develop a grading system, CHED said. 

However, CHED maintained that these universities should give a numeric grade to all merit scholars so that they could be evaluated for the continuation of their scholarship benefits.

Classes will open in colleges and universities this month through the “flexible learning” approach. (READ: FAST FACTS: CHED’s flexible learning) – Rappler.com