Blended learning will continue when classes for school year 2021-2022 open on Sept. 13, the Department of Education said on Monday.

President Rodrigo Duterte has not yet approved a proposed pilot test for face-to-face classes in 100 schools, noted Education Secretary Leonor Briones.

"Marami siyang tinitingnan na aspeto tungkol sa health situation natin," she said in a televised public briefing. "Gusto ko lang 'yang i-clarify, Sept. 13 is still blended learning."

(He is looking at many aspects of our health situation. I just want to clarify that Sept. 13 is still blended learning.)

• Duterte: No face-to-face classes until children are vaccinated

Blended learning makes use of online classes, printed modules, and television and radio broadcasts.

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The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia that has yet to hold in-person classes for basic education, even on a limited scale to supplement distance-learning modalities, Briones earlier noted.

Duterte has twice rejected a pilot test for face-to-face classes, the latest in February, because the COVID-19 vaccination drive had yet to be launched then.

• Duterte may reconsider face-to-face classes after rollout of 2 million COVID-19 vaccines: ofc'l

Duterte approved the pilot test of limited face-to-face classes in December 2020, but withdrew his approval weeks later because of concern over COVID variants.

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Several groups, as well as officials of the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund are pushing for the safe reopening of schools for in-person classes, citing "grave" and "far-reaching" consequences of prolonged school closures on students' physical and mental health, skills attainment, and earning prospects.

• Safe reopening of schools 'an urgent priority': WHO, Unicef officials