THE DEPARTMENT of Education gave  assurances that it will continue its collaboration with the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to ensure the protection of learners, teachers and other education workers during the expansion of face-to-face classes this month.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones underscored the good collaboration among the agencies in the implementation of the guidelines of limited face-to-face classes and Covid19 vaccination.

“The program for face-to-face classes which the President already delegated to us is a responsibility of three main agencies with DepEd as the main implementing agency. Then we have the Department of Health as our partner on health issues and risk assessment reports,” Briones said.

She added that the DILG is a key stakeholder in the expansion since in-classroom classes cannot commence in areas under Alert Level 1 and 2 without the consent of local government units.

“We have also invited the Department of the Interior and Local Government. I believe we should not implement any policy in any region or any locality without their participation, without the consent of local governments,” Briones said.

“Between DepEd and DOH, DepEd is responsible for matters of policy development, information campaigns, capacity buildings, and actual learning delivery. On matters of health issues, it is the DOH which is responsible,” she added.

The DepEd chief reiterated that her agency also complies with national policies followed by all public institutions, including guidelines on unvaccinated individuals.

Last Wednesday, Briones authorized all regional directors to start the progressive expansion phase of face-to-face classes in public and private schools.