Vaccinations may not be required for students, but it is preferred if they want to participate in face-to-face classes, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday.

"Ang atin pong kasunduan with the Department of Health, hindi po natin nilagay na requirement sa policy natin but preferred," DepEd Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma told DZRH.

(In our agreement with the Department of Health, we did not include it as a requirement in the policy but preferred.)

"Ibig sabihin, mas maganda na ang mga bata ay bakunado sapagkat alam naman natin na hindi pa po talaga kakayanin na in terms of the rollout of the vaccine for the pediatric vaccination na lahat ay ma-cover na," he explained.

In the National Capital Region, Garma said that they have no problems if Metro Manila mayors only want vaccinated students to participate in face-to-face classes.

"'Yun po yung sinasabi natin na dapat may concurrence 'yung local government unit. So kung 'yun po ang arrangement nila, hindi naman po problema 'yun dahil 'yun naman po ang gagawa ng adjustment ng ating mga paaralan," he said.

(That’s what we’re saying when we said there is a need for concurrence in the local government unit. So if that is their arrangement, we do not have a problem with that because they will be the ones making adjustments for schools.)

"Mas maganda po na kung may pagkakataon na makapagpabakuna 'yung mga five years old natin up to 11 ay better that they get vaccinated already," the official said.

(It is much better if children five years old up to 11 to get vaccinated when they get the chance.)

The country has been implementing the expanded phase of limited face-to-face classes since January for schools under Alert Level 1 and 2 that were permitted by their local government units.