Palace hopes more schools under Alert Level 2 will hold face-to-face classes

DID YOU MISS ME? With face masks on, Grade 3 pupils at Comembo Elementary School in Makati City ease back into their usual classroom activities last year. (RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday said it hopes to see more schools hold face-to-face classes as Metro Manila and some provinces have shifted to Alert Level 2.

From February 1 to 15, Metro Manila, Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Basilan will be under Alert Level 2, the second most lenient status of the five-tier alert level system.

“So, now na there are several provinces, including NCR, that is already on Alert Level 2, then we hope to be able to see a more, you know, an expansion on the number of schools, public schools that already can do the face-to-face classes upon the assessment of ng (the) Department of Education (DepEd) pati ng (and the) Department of Health,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.

“That being said, ‘yung mga (those) private schools na gusto na rin magsimula ng (that want to conduct) face-to-face classes, especially in the Alert Level 2 areas, can now begin making their representations with the Department of Education para mabigyan din sila ng pahintulot ng DepEd na mag-face-to-face classes na rin sila (so they can be permitted to hold classes),” the acting presidential spokesperson added.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved the expansion of limited physical classes in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2.

DepEd’s pilot run of in-person classes started on November 15, 2021 and ended on December 22, 2021.

A total of 287 schools and around 15,000 students took part in the face to face classes.

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