THE DEPARTMENT of Education is considering increasing classroom hours during the conduct of limited face-to-face classes as the country aims to reopen more schools.

Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan noted teachers and learners raised concerns on the insufficient time for teaching and learning during the pilot study.

“Doon sa feedback natin doon sa pilot implementation, doon sa ating mga surveys na ginawa ay isa iyan sa mga nabanggit, iyong kakulangan ng oras na inilaan dahil nilimitahan natin ito to three hours for kindergarten and four hours for the higher grade levels,” Malaluan said.

In the expansion phase, Malaluan bared the interim guidelines issued by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones state that schools will be given flexibility in contact time for teaching and learning, provided that meals are not taken in school except during managed recess.

“So mostly ay half-day pa rin ang schedule ng ating expansion phase. Pero kaya nga progressive expansion, we will have to discuss this with the Department of Health,” he explained.

“Hahaba ang ating protocols na

i-observe kung hahayaan nating mananghalian ang mga bata sa paraalan because that will extend to our canteens, the protocols during meals, and it will also increase the risk assessment,” he added.

The department on Friday reported some 6,000 schools in the country are ready to hold in-person classes once quarantine restrictions improved.

The holding of physical classes is now in its progressive expansion in areas under Alert Level 2 such as Metro Manila, Batanes, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Southern Leyte and Biliran.

Meanwhile, all grade levels could participate under the progressive expansion phase.