More grade levels will be included in the expansion phase of limited face-to-face (F2F) classes in the country, an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Wednesday.

In a DZBB interview, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said the expansion of classes would also include more geographic areas.

The pilot of limited F2F classes, which started late last year, only included students from Kinder to Grade 3 and select Senior High School strands.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently approved the DepEd’s proposal to expand limited F2F classes in areas under Alert Level 2.

The DepEd has yet to recommend the expansion of F2F classes in Alert Level 3 areas.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones has been touting the success of the pilot, saying zero Covid-19 cases were reported among the 15,000 basic education students who participated in limited F2F classes.

The DepEd is eyeing a February start for the expansion phase of limited in-person classes. John Ezekiel J. Hirro