MORE grade levels in public and private schools will be allowed to participate in the expanded phase of face-to-face classes, the Department of Education said.

Only those in Kindergarten, Grades 1 to 3, and Senior High School were initially allowed to participate in the pilot implementation of in-person learning.

“With the expansion phase, we would like to give that opportunity and chance to the other grade levels so that mag-umpisa na ‘yung setting of the consciousness among our learners and teachers na talagang time will come na talagang school-bahay ang learning at teaching process natin,” DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma said.

However, the inclusion of more grade levels will be based on the capacity of the schools to ensure adherence to health and safety protocols.

“It’s really up to the schools, our divisions, and regions to make that right programming, the right combination of what grade levels can be included in the expanded limited face to face,” Garma said.

In the guidelines issued by the department, schools must pass the standards of the School Safety Assessment Tool, be in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2, must have obtained the concurrence of the local government unit and written consent of participants’ parents, and coordinated with their respective barangay.

Based on DepEd’s recent data, 304 schools in Alert Level 1 or 2 areas are qualified to commence face-to-face classes, 12 of which are in Region 2, 106 in Region 3, 54 in Region 4A, and 123 in the NCR. In addition, 59 pilot public and private schools in Region 4A, 8, 10, and NCR are continuing the implementation of limited physical classes.

Garma said that only vaccinated teachers can join expanded face-to-face classes. Vaccinated learners are also preferred.