The Department of Education (DepEd) released guidelines on Monday, Nov. 18, to support teachers and learners in the wake of typhoon “Pepito” --- prioritizing their safety and well-being while maintaining learning continuity.

02 students MB Visual Content Group.jpg — (DepEd / MB Visual Content Group)

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara signed Department Memorandum No. 64, Series of 2024, instructing field officials to coordinate with local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) and promptly report any casualties or displaced teachers and learners.

Schools were also directed to mobilize their medical and Disaster Risk and Reduction Management (DRRM) teams, evaluate the safety of classrooms and facilities, and implement necessary interventions for those affected.

To ensure effective monitoring, Regional and Schools Division Offices must submit daily Situation Reports by 9 a.m.

Additionally, DepEd required school DRRM teams to complete and submit the Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR) within 72 hours, using either the RADaR application or the offline template.

Learning should continue

Meanwhile, DepEd required field offices and schools to implement Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) utilizing the most appropriate methods, such as the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP), to ensure learning continuity.

School officials must also ensure the availability of learning resources before deploying ADMs, according to DepEd.

“Field offices are also encouraged to collaborate with local government units for clean-up operations, minor repairs, and the establishment of temporary learning spaces where needed,” DepEd said.

Angara noted that DepEd remained “committed to prioritizing the safety and education of learners and educators in the face of disasters.”

To minimize disruptions to education, school officials were also directed to facilitate the provision of response interventions such as clean-up or clearing operations, minor repairs to temporary learning spaces, emergency school feeding, and temporary water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, to enable a safe learning environment and facilitate immediate access to education.

DepEd said damaged learning resources, school furniture, and computer packages for affected schools must be replaced immediately to ensure learning continuity.

Aside from implementing ADMs and DLP, DepEd said learning resources should be provided to displaced or affected learners through coordination with the DepEd ROs and Central Office (CO).

School officials were also encouraged to use community learning spaces, where feasible, to facilitate small-group learning in safe locations.

Ensuring safety and well-being

To ensure the safety and well-being of both personnel and learners, DepEd directed all school officials to coordinate with their respective local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) and report displaced DepEd personnel, learners, or casualties, if any.

They were also instructed to activate the medical team in schools to address any medical needs of DepEd personnel and learners and conduct pre-deployment debriefings for all schools and school division DRRM teams participating in rapid assessment and reporting.

DepEd said any “unsafe areas within the school premises” should be marked, while safety protocols, including hotlines, should be disseminated through all available communication channels.

Schools must also facilitate or conduct psychological first aid for the affected learners and personnel in coordination with relevant government agencies and education partners, and refer and report any child protection and human rights issues arising from the emergency.

Aside from ensuring access to clean drinking water, food, and hygiene supplies within the school, school heads were also instructed to assess the well-being of DepEd personnel, especially teachers and learners, regarding the resumption of in-person classes.

“If necessary, implement further localized temporary suspension of in-person classes to allow recovery from the effects of the hazard,” DepEd added.

Coordinate with key agencies

DepEd encouraged school officials to coordinate with local government units, other agencies, and partners for response interventions such as clean-up or clearing operations, minor repairs, temporary learning spaces, and the allocation of funds.

For immediate repairs, clean-up drives, clearing operations, and the provision of temporary shelters for internally displaced persons occupying schools in preparation for the resumption of in-person classes, DepEd said school heads must collaborate with local government units (LGUs) and relevant agencies.

School officials were also urged to collaborate with local partners for learning continuity interventions, such as learning supplies, teaching materials, hygiene kits, and emergency school feeding, to support affected learners and personnel.

DepEd also asked school heads to ensure that schools used as evacuation centers are safe for the resumption of classes, following protocols outlined in Republic Act No. 10821, or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act.

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