ONLINE LEARNING: COULD IT BE A FUTURE INDUSTRY?

ONLINE LEARNING: COULD IT BE A FUTURE INDUSTRY?

Here’s a question that’s quietly sitting at the edge of our education system: Why can’t we allow purely online college courses in the Philippines? According to online sources and confirmed by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) policies, we’re still not there yet.

Specifically, CHED Memorandum Order No. 16 requires higher education institutions to offer either full face-to-face classes or hybrid modalities. In the hybrid setup, at least 50% of total contact time must be in person. So, by current standards, 100% online college courses are not allowed.

The intention is understandable. CHED wants to make sure students don’t just sit in front of screens their entire academic lives, especially when it comes to laboratory courses, OJT (on-the-job training), and apprenticeships. I agree with that, and I don’t intend to challenge the logic of the policy. But let me offer a practical interpretation—not a rebellion, but a reform.

Why can’t we simply separate the theoretical and practical components of college courses? Let students complete the theory purely online and do the hands-on learning purely onsite. “Onsite” here could mean on-campus, yes, but it could also mean off-campus—in partner institutions, in local companies, or in third-party training labs nearest to the student’s residence.

For example, if a student from Ilocos is enrolled in an online IT course offered by a university in Metro Manila, there is no need for him or her to travel far just to meet a face-to-face requirement for “compliance.” Theoretical learning in programming, data structures, or system analysis can be done fully online. But when it comes time for OJT, why not allow that student to partner with a tech company in Ilocos?

The same logic applies to apprenticeship programs. These, by nature, are off-campus activities. So CHED’s rule insisting on a 50% in-person interaction could be reinterpreted without violating its spirit. Laboratory work? I’ll admit that can’t be done via Google Meet, Teams or Zoom—but it doesn’t always need to be done on the same campus that offers the course. In many developed countries, students are doing lab work in satellite labs or industry partners' facilities, close to home.

Now let’s look at the bigger picture. Online learning is already one of the most promising export industries in our country, though we may not realize it yet. Thousands of Filipinos are already teaching English and other skills to foreign students over the internet. What’s to stop us from turning this into a full-fledged dollar-earning education sector?

If we allow our colleges and universities to offer fully online, CHED-recognized degree programs, we could soon be attracting foreign students—without them even setting foot on Philippine soil. It’s not far-fetched. In fact, it’s already happening in reverse: many Filipino students are currently enrolled in foreign universities offering fully online courses.

So why not flip the script? Filipino professors, Filipino colleges, Filipino accreditation—but delivered globally through online platforms. I daresay, this could even spark a new form of “educational tourism”—online and hybrid students who eventually visit the Philippines for short-term training, immersions, or certifications.

Let’s take it even more locally. Imagine a student from the farthest barangay in Samar being able to enroll in a prestigious university in Metro Manila, without having to relocate or pay dorm fees. These students can complete most of the course work online. For the practical components like OJT or apprenticeships, they can work with a local government office, an NGO, or a private enterprise in their own town.

It’s cost-effective, inclusive, and scalable. Most of all, it aligns with what the Fourth Industrial Revolution is demanding---education that transcends geography.

I’m appealing to the government not to overturn CHED’s policy, but to re-express it in a more flexible and forward-looking way. Let us trust in the integrity of Filipino educators. Let us trust in the eagerness of students to learn, even from behind screens. And let us not ignore the economic opportunity that’s waiting to be unlocked.

After all, education is not just about bricks and mortar anymore. In this new world, it’s about bandwidth and motivation.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

08-10-2025