THE DEPARTMENT of Education plans to terminate the pilot study of the face-to-face classes by the end of December this year.

Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma told members of the Committee on Basic Education and Culture of the House of Representatives that the DepEd will submit its findings and recommendation on whether or not to expand limited face-to-face classes to President Rodrigo Duterte next year.

The panel tackled House Resolution 2204 authored by Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas  that seeks an inquiry into the proposed implementation of blended and distance learning options, particularly the limited and controlled face-to-face classes and  HR 2387 that proposed the conduct of face-to-face classes in urban centers.

Garma told Rep. Roman Romulo, chairman of the committee, that more schools and more grade levels will be allowed to hold physical classes if the program will be expanded.

The DepEd official said that an expansion will depend on the decision of the President.

Deputy Minority Leader Stella Luz Quimbo wanted to know if the department already had an assessment of the pilot study.

Garma said that participating schools are assessed weekly but the department is still gathering all data and information.

“Once we gather all these information and data, icoconsolidate namin ito together with our analyses and together with the recommendation of what possible adjustments can be done as a way of recommending to the Office of the President the direction for the expansion phase,” he told lawmakers.

The DepEd has selected 277 public schools and 20 private schools to participate in the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes.