THE DEPARTMENT of Education is considering allowing 177 schools to conduct limited face-to-face classes.

“In view of the improving Covid19 situation in the country, the DepEd and the [Department of Health] have endorsed to the Office of the President to give them greater flexibility in increasing the number of schools [that can conduct physical classes],” DepEd Spokesman Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said.

“It was approved provided that we still keep it in the pilot stage,” he added.

Malaluan said that DepEd and Metro Manila mayors have agreed to start in-person classes in Metro Manila.

Some 28 schools in the National Capital Region will be included in the additional list of schools that will start to hold in-person classes in the next few months.

The Education department initially allowed 100 schools to hold face-to-face classes.