THE DEPARTMENT of Education admitted that some local government units are hesitant to allow the resumption of face-to-face classes even on a pilot basis.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that LGUs in the National Capital Region are still “thinking very seriously” whether to give the go signal for the holding of physical classes.

“Even in NCR, there are still those who are reflecting and thinking very seriously, especially in areas that have a lot of schools,” Briones said.

She noted that there is a possibility that schools in Metro Manila will join the list of schools holding physical classes next year.

“Nakahanda naman iyong listahan namin kapag favorable ang risk assessment,” she said.

DepEd Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Malcom Garma said the agency is preparing to expand the program to include more schools to conduct face-to-face classes.

The expansion phase may start in January instead of its original schedule in March 2022, Garma said.

At least 100 public schools in Covid19 low-risk areas joined the pilot implementation on November 15. A week after, 18 private schools also resumed physical classes.