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On face-to-face classes: Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, presides over the continuation of a hybrid hearing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the country’s basic education system, updates on the conduct of classes for school year 2020 to 2021, including the assessment of learners on the Department of Education’s (DepEd) report on its limited pilot face-to-face classes Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Gatchalian informed resource persons during the hearing that the Senate had unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday, March 2, 2021, recommending the resumption of face-to-face classes through the immediate launch of a pilot testing program. “Senators expressed their concern over this prolonged shut down of formal classes. Last hearing, we listened to our experts that prolonged shut down of classes have negative consequences on our learners which include mental health, nutrition and even abuses at home. But more importantly, the regression of learning of our learners,” according to Gatchalian. He said the recommended target for face-to-face classes is for school year 2021 to 2022 but reopening of formal classes could be earlier if evidence would show positive results. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)