THE DEPARTMENT of Education announced that 25,786 public and private schools joined the progressive expansion phase of face-to-face classes.

Of the figures, the education department said 25,122 were public schools and 664 were private schools.

The schools already complied with School Safety Assessment Tool, it added.

Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that her agency is looking forward to the higher number of schools that will implement face-to-face classes.

“The progressive face-to-face as part of blended learning has already started as early as February and we are anticipating na mas lalong dadami ang mga schools na sasali dahil pagpasok ng NCR, malaking bulto ng eskwelahan yan pati sa other places na nasa level 1 at 2 na,” Briones said.

DepEd allotted P1 billion for the expansion of physical classes.