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EIGHT regions have moved in-person classes to alternative delivery modes due to the sweltering heat, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday.
Among those that announced the shift were Quezon City and Caloocan City in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Similar announcements were made in Dagupan City in Ilocos Region; Polangui, Albay, in Bicol Region; and the cities of Iloilo, Kabankalan, Silay, Himamaylan and Bago, as well as Bacolod, Negros Occidental, and Roxas City in Western Visayas, the DepEd said in an advisory.
Three schools in Eastern Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula also ordered blended learning, particularly Maasin Central School in Maasin City, Pagadian City Pilot School and Buenavista Integrated School, respectively.
The local government units of Banga, Tantangan, General Santos and Polomolok in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Maasim in Sarangani also suspended in-person classes for learners and teachers.
The Navotas City Schools Division Office, meanwhile, adjusted the class schedules in public schools, freeing schools of all students during the highest heat index peaks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For the morning shift, classes will run from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., while the afternoon shift will resume from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for elementary and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. for secondary levels.
For all public schools in Muntinlupa, Mayor Ruffy Biazon announced the shortening of in-person classes until 10 a.m., with afternoon classes suspended due to the extreme heat.
Meanwhile, the Division of City Schools in Manila has given school heads the discretion to suspend face-to-face classes amid hot weather conditions.
In a memorandum, Dr. Nerissa Roxas Lomeda, chief education supervisor and Office of the Superintendent officer in charge, said in-person classes “must, at all times, be the default modality, except in extreme cases.”
“While school principals have the authority over class programming, you are reminded of your accountability with learning outcomes,” she added.
Lomeda said teachers and students can wear more comfortable clothing besides their regular uniforms to reduce the heat they feel inside the schools.
However, she said these outfits must adhere to the Civil Service Commission’s rules on appropriate clothing in the workplace.
The memorandum, meanwhile, enjoined all schools to submit implementation plans to their assigned public school district supervisors for information, monitoring, and supervision of classes.
On Monday, around 13 areas nationwide shifted to blended learning due to scorching heat index levels.
The Task Force El Niño earlier urged local government units to consider a shift to alternative delivery modes to ensure that the welfare of learners and teachers is not compromised.
Meanwhile, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro called for more classrooms and better ventilation in schools due to the “unbearable” heat being experienced by students and teachers.
“The current heat index experienced by our students and teachers should serve as a wake-up call to prioritize the construction of additional classrooms and the improvement of ventilation systems in our schools,” Castro said.
She added that it is unjust for learners and educators to suffer in unbearable conditions that directly affect their health, well-being and academic performance.
She said the government must address the issue by allocating funds for the construction of new classrooms and the improvement of ventilation systems in schools nationwide, as well as conducting regular inspections and maintenance of existing facilities to ensure a “conducive learning environment” for all.
“We cannot delay the provision of adequate infrastructure any longer. It is the responsibility of the government, particularly the DepEd, to prioritize the well-being and learning conditions of our students and teachers… Investing in the construction of more classrooms and improving ventilation systems is an investment in the future of our nation,” Castro said.
Also on Tuesday, Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said local government units and school administrators are not prohibited from reverting to blended or remote learning methods due to the intense heat. This is in line with the existing DepEd order that allows for the suspension or cancellation of face-to-face classes.
“We understand the concerns of parents, teachers, and even students due to the intense heat we’ve been experiencing these past few days. Aside from the difficulty of focusing on studies because of the hot weather, the welfare of our young students should be our consideration at this time,” said Estrada in Filipino.
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