ONLY Kindergarten to Grade 3 students will be allowed to participate in the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes, the Department of Education said on Monday.

Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said this was the recommendation of the Department of Health and other medical experts.

“Unang-unang ang mga schools na ito ay hindi full scale ang pag-conduct ng (F2F classes). Ang recommendation ng DOH and medical experts, tayo ay magpo-focus lang sa first stage —

Kindergarten to Grade 3. Hindi full operations ang mga ito,” Malaluan said.

Classes will last for three hours and only a limited number of students will be allowed inside classrooms.

“Twelve lamang (na mag-aaral) sa Kindergarten, at not more than sixteen sa Grades 1 to 3 para masiguro ang physical distancing inside the classroom at saka ‘yung organized na pagpasok at paglabas ng mga mag-aaral,” Malaluan said, adding that participation in physical classes will be voluntary.

“Ang ibig sabihin nito, ang mga activities sa schools are mainly reinforcing. Education would still be predominantly be distance learning. Ito naman ang konsepto ng blended learning,” he added.

Classrooms used for the pilot testing should be well-ventilated. The use of air-conditioners will not be allowed.

Strict health protocols will be implemented.

The DepEd earlier said that at least 120 schools in Covid19 low-risk areas will start the pilot run of limited in-person classes once President Rodrigo Duterte gives his approval.