QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) has suspended face-to-face classes in public schools nationwide for Monday, April 29 and Tuesday, April 30 citing extreme heat and a nationwide transport strike, according to an announcement made on Sunday.
The decision comes as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecasted extreme heat nationwide and amidst the announcement of a nationwide transport strike, DepEd said.
DepEd emphasized that public school teachers and personnel are not required to report to schools during this period.
However, activities organized by Regional and Schools Division Offices, such as athletic meets and other programs, may still proceed as scheduled, provided that safety measures for all participants have been carefully considered, the agency noted. Private schools are also encouraged to implement similar measures during this period.
The suspension of face-to-face classes for today and tomorrow adds to the ongoing suspension for most of April due to intense heat, rendering classroom conditions unsuitable for learning.
DepEd has directed schools to implement alternative delivery modes should the extreme heat make classroom instruction unbearable for students and teachers.
While education sector unions, groups, and stakeholders have urged DepEd to abandon its phased transition toward the old school calendar, the agency remains steadfast in its decision to gradually revert.
Currently, DepEd is finalizing details of the immediate transition with President Marcos, who expressed openness to immediately reverting to the old school calendar to mitigate harsh classroom conditions amid extreme heat.
Both the Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition have proposed an immediate shift to the old calendar in the upcoming school year 2024-2025 without affecting the school break and school days.
Earlier, various groups advocated for returning to the old school calendar, citing the heat experienced by students during March and April.
In response to these concerns, lawmakers filed proposals to shift to the old calendar, arguing that the current school calendar from August to June is inappropriate for the country.
DepEd previously issued DepEd Order No. 3, s. 2024 on February 19, adjusting the end of the current school year to May 31 from June 15. It also set the opening and closing dates for SY 2024-2025 on July 29, 2024, and May 16, 2025, respectively. (PIA-NCR)
