STUDENTS ENDURING EXTREME HEAT, ADJUSTED SCHOOL YEAR

The Department of Education has suspended face-to-face classes in public elementary and high schools due to the expected warmer weather and the three-day transport strike of the Piston.

DepEd instructed schools to conduct asynchronous classes or distance learning until tomorrow April 30. DepEd also notified teaching and non-teaching personnel that they are no longer required to report to school.

Suspension of classes due to intense heat (Photo courtesy of Lisa Marie David/GMA News)

The activities organized by the regional and schools division offices such as the Regional Athletic Association Meet and other division or school level programs will continue as long as the safety of the participants in said activities is ensured and carefully considered.

Private schools are not covered by the DepEd order. In Manila, the local government announced the suspension of face-to-face classes even in public colleges and universities.

The Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, has pleaded with Marcos to move the school's summer break back to April and May.

Zubiri said in an interview, “Due to the extreme heat this summer these past few days, I’m appealing to the President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, that maybe we need to study and bring back the April-May break.” 

“Our kids could come back on June 15 or the second week of June. They will no longer experience this kind of heat and hardship when it comes to their studies. Maybe the only ones that can afford it are the private sector classrooms with air conditioning. In our public ones in the province, there are no electric fans, nothing,” he added.

Previously, DepEd published DepEd Order No. 3, s. On February 19, 2024, adjusting the current school year's end to moved from May 31 to June 15. Additionally, it established July 29, 2024, as the closing date, and, May 16, 2025 as the opening dates for SY 2024–2025.

President Marcos has indicated that his administration is open to quickly switching back to the previous school calendar in order to prevent uncomfortable classroom circumstances during the intense summer heat. DepEd is currently working with him to smooth out the specifics of this transition.

Source: Philippine Star

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