SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday supported the progressive expansion of limited face- to-face classes in areas under Alert Level 1 and 2.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said that the move is a crucial step in the recovery of the basic education sector from the impact of Covid19.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently approved the recommendation of the Department of Education to expand limited face-to-face classes.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that only vaccinated teaching and non-teaching staff will be allowed to participate in physical classes. Vaccinated learners will be given preference.

Gatchalian said this should prompt the government to speed up the vaccination of minors aged 5 to 11.

“Habang unti-unti nating binubuksan ang mga paaralan, lalo na ‘yung nasa itinuturing na may low at minimal risk ng Covid19, nananatiling prayoridad ang pagbibigay natin ng proteksiyon sa ating mga mag-aaral. Kaya naman isinusulong natin ang pagbabakuna sa mga batang may edad 5 hanggang 11 upang matiyak ang kanilang kaligtasan,” he said.

Earlier this month, the DepEd shared results of a survey showing that 97% of learners from Grades 1 to 3 and 86% of senior high school students were satisfied with their overall experience in attending face-to-face classes.