The Department of Education (DepEd) has given a positive rating on the progressive expansion of the limited face-to-face classes nationwide.

In a virtual press conference on Friday, the DepEd reported 14,350 public and private schools involving 2,562,514 learners are nominated to resume physical classes.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said the pilot classes and the preparation are successful, based on the initial assessments.

“Wala naman tayong casualty at saka positive naman ang assessment mismo ng learners (We don’t have casualties and the assessment is positive among the learners), the parents, local governments, and of course our school officials,” she said.

Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma backed Briones, saying learners and teachers are very excited and enthusiastic about the in-person class resumption, though it remains limited.

“They are now very active, despite the absence in two years na walang face-to-face. We also have learners who can write well, and there are also those who can read, but of course, there will be those who are left behind. And this is what the teachers must do. They need to improve those who are already good and provide intervention to learners needing intervention,” he explained in a mix of English and Filipino.

As of March 17, a total of 9,353 schools (8,972 public; 381 private) have been participating in the limited face-to-face classes.

Briones said they are in close coordination with the Department of Health to discuss measures of relaxation for further expansion, especially with the growing call from the government’s economic team to boost the opening of in-person classes.

“Crucial ang education sa pagpapalago ng ekonomiya, very important ito (Education is crucial to boost the economy. It is very important). Supposedly, they belong to the social development sector. But actually, we are a major player in the economy,” Briones said.

Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan added the DOH is considering the pediatric vaccination rate to allow relaxation of guidelines.

“We are not rushing that, as mentioned by the DOH, mahalaga ‘yung pag-accelerate ng pediatric vaccination (what’s important is the acceleration of the vaccination) to make those relaxations permissible. What we see kung tuloy-tuloy itong sitwasyon, hindi nalalayo ‘yan (If this situation continues, we are not far from that),” he said.

The DepEd also reiterated that schools may conduct limited in-person or virtual end-of-school rites, especially in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2, subject to health protocols. (PNA)