THE Department of Education in Soccsksargen plans to include at least 258 public schools in the region in the expanded phase of limited face-to-face classes.

Glenn Arellano Bisnar, DepEd 12 chief education supervisor of policy, planning, and research division, said the schools are ready to conduct physical classes starting this month.

“As of Tuesday, there are 132 schools that confirmed to implement F2F classes, including nine from South Cotabato and four from Tacurong City,” Bisnar said.

Six more additional schools in South Cotabato will hold in-person classes starting March 7.

On March 14, six schools in Koronadal City will also reopen their facilities to students.

“The progressive expansion also covered private schools, institutions offering special education, and the alternative learning system,” Bisnar said.

Under the Interim Guidelines on the Expansion of Limited Face-to-Face Classes issued by the DepEd, schools must pass the standards of the School Safety Assessment Tool to be able to conduct physical classes.

Schools should also be in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2; have the concurrence of their respective local government unit and the consent of participants’ parents.

The DepEd has authorized schools to include other grade levels in public and private schools in the expanded face-to-face program.