Ombudsman's Office demands that universities return to face-to-face classes compulsorily

After two years of migrating to virtual education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ombudsman's Office demanded mandatory return to face-to-face classes in the country's universities and urged the authorities provide the necessary guarantees to achieve this.

They stated in a statement, in which the organization stated that this closure of universities and institutes affects the vocational training of thousands of young people, their competitiveness and emotional health, as well as the possibilities of academic and scientific production, an aspect inherent to the existence of universities.

In addition, he considered that thanks to the joint efforts of educational institutions and the State, it was possible to reduce the impact of the pandemic on higher education and, above all, to implement remote education, which has always allowed the educational continuity of thousands of students.

However, he said that the current health situation requires that the reopening of universities and institutes and education be effectively ensured face-to-face, since it allows educational development with basic conditions of university quality, such as access to libraries, laboratories, internships, among others.

“According to the Third Biennial Report on the Reality of Universities in Peru, in 2020 the rate of interruption of undergraduate studies was 18.1% nationwide, while in 2019 the rate was 6.2%,” he warned.

The agency recalled that, in February 2022, the Ministry of Education approved the return to face-to-face and/or blended learning at public and private universities, as well as graduate schools, through Vice-Ministerial Resolution No. 015-2022-MINEDU.

According to the regulations, universities must define the hybrid model and the percentage of attendance to be implemented, as well as be developed under six principles: safety, flexibility, self-determination, equivalence, accessibility and quality.

It should be noted that face-to-face classes have already started in different schools in Peru complying with biosafety protocols.

However, the Office of the Ombudsman held that this standard is insufficient to promote effective return to university classrooms in a face-to-face manner, which is reflected in the numerous complaints received due to the lack of availability of face-to-face classes after two years of virtual education.

“It is important to keep in mind that we are at a different stage of the pandemic than in 2020 and 2021, with successful vaccination progress and sufficient knowledge of appropriate and effective biosecurity measures to take care of our health,” he said in today's statement.

In this regard, the Office of the Ombudsman recommended that the Ministry of Education amend Vice-Ministerial Resolution No. 015-2022-MINEDU in order to adopt a new regulatory framework that would accelerate the reopening of universities and institutes of higher education, and that face-to-face educational service is guaranteed to thousands of young people.

In turn, he urged that the new regulations make the provision of the face-to-face educational service compulsory and that only in an exceptional and duly justified manner be provided blended and distance education.

NEW EDUCATIONAL MODELS

On the other hand, within the hybrid educational models to be developed, the approved guidelines consider three different scenarios through which universities could implement such models.

The first is the one that takes into account the grouping of students, such as simultaneous, mixed, parallel replicated and rotating classes by groups of students.

The second is that focused on the nature of the subject, in which they will be carried in person or not in person, as well as mixed in nature.

Finally, the third scenario is that focused on students, in which personalized advice would be provided; autonomy in choosing the form of the course; strategic learning points and summer and/or holiday activities.

With this regulation, universities are entitled to provide a face-to-face or blended service during 2022-1, without this implying a license modification, leaving emergency remote education, which had to be implemented because of the health emergency.

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