Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18) — Reelectionist Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian will push for the inclusion of more schools in the pilot implementation of in-person classes in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am pushing to increase the number of pilot schools, hopefully more than a thousand across the different parts of our country,” he told CNN Philippines.

One hundred public schools in low-risk areas finally reopened on Nov. 15 as the Department of Education launched its pilot run of limited face-to-face classes.

Thousands of kindergarten, Grades 1 to 3, and senior high students returned to their classrooms after almost two years of online learning.

Gatchalian said the resumption of in-person classes this week was successful, as seen by efforts of school administrators to ensure health protocols are followed.

But in order to improve the country’s education system, Gatchalian said it is important to invest more on teachers. This can be done by providing additional support through better benefits, salaries, and training, the senator noted.