The Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated that schools are allowed to suspend or cancel the conduct of in-person classes due to unfavorable weather like extreme heat. (DepEd / MB Visual Content Group)

Implementing Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) due to heat or brownouts is under the authority and discretion of school heads, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa told reporters in a Viber message on Saturday, April 22. Poa explained that School Heads have “direct knowledge of the day-to-day situation in their schools” which is why suspending classes and interventions such as switching to distance learning are under their discretion. “For as long as it is determined by our school heads that the school environment is no longer conducive for our learners and personnel, they may suspend in-person classes and immediately switch to ADM,” Poa said in a mix of English and Filipino. Poa added that the principals or school heads “have been reminded of their authority and responsibility to suspend in-person classes and switch to alternative delivery modes” if the extreme heat is already affecting the health of learners and school personnel. The situation from one school to another varies, Poa explained. Thus, school heads have been allowed by DepEd to decide should there is a need to suspend face-to-face classes and adjust the learning delivery modality. “Ayaw rin po nating makaapekto sa kalusugan ng ating mga learners ang napakainit na panahon, kaya po pinaalalahan natin ang mga school heads na maaari silang mag-switch agad sa ADMs (We also don't want the extremely hot weather to affect the health of our learners, so we remind the school heads that they can immediately switch to ADMs),” Poa added.

Memo was issued, schools were reminded

Poa also noted that DepEd has previously issued a memorandum to the field to reiterate and remind the school heads of their authority to cancel face-to-face classes and implement distance learning due to extreme weather. In a memorandum issued on April 20, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations Francis Cesar Bringas also reiterated that schools are allowed to implement modular distance learning as provided in DepEd order no. 37 s. of 2022. In consideration of the “well-being of the learners affected by extreme climate conditions as they attend in-person classes,” Bringas reiterated DepEd Order No. 037 s. of 2022, titled “Guidelines on the Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in Schools in the Event of Natural Disasters, Power Outages / Power Interruptions, and Other Calamities.” The said DepEd Order, Bringas said, provides for the implementation of modular distance learning “in the event of canceled or suspended classes due to natural disasters, calamities, and human-induced hazards to ensure learning continuity and that learning competencies and objectives are met.” Related to the announcement of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at the beginning of the warm and dry season, in which warmer temperatures were expected, DepEd also reminded School Heads that they may “suspend in-person classes and implement modular distance learning in cases of unfavorable weather and environment such as, but not limited to, extremely his temperatures which may considerably affect the conduct of classroom learning and put the learners’ health and well-being at risk.” DepEd also directed School Division Offices, through the Schools Division Superintended, to monitor schools implementing the said modality.