Schools may suspend face-to-face classes amid unfavorable weather conditions such as extreme heat, the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated on Thursday, March 14.
“Nakapaglabas na tayo last year pa ng ating directive, and in effect pa din ang directive na iyan (We have already released our directive last year and that directive is still in effect),” said DepEd Deputy Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Operations Francis Bringas in a DZXL interview.
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Based on the existing DepEd memorandum, Bringas explained during unfavorable weather conditions, the school heads were instructed or given authority to suspend classes based on their “careful” consideration.
“Inaatasan natin or binibigyan natin ng authority ang ating mga school heads na mag-suspinde ng klase base sa kanilang maingat at wise discretion para masigurado na safe pa din ang ating mga mag-aaral pati na din ang ating mga guro (We instruct or give authority to our school heads to suspend classes based on their careful and wise discretion to ensure the safety of our students and teachers),” Bringas explained.
School authorities, he said, always await announcements from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) regarding the heat index in their respective areas.
“Iyon ang nagiging basehan din nila sa kanilang desisyon kung sususpindihin or hindi yung ating mga face-to-face classes at mag-shift na lang sa alternative or blended learning delivery mode (That becomes the basis for their decision on whether to suspend our face-to-face classes and shift to alternative or blended learning delivery modes),” Bringas said.
Alternative Delivery Modes or ADMs, he explained, are “properly instituted” in schools to ensure learning continuity despite the suspension of face-to-face classes.
While DepEd’s policy on the suspension of in-person classes during adverse weather conditions covers public schools, Bringas noted that affected private schools were highly encouraged to follow suit.
Although many private schools have installed air-conditioning units in their classrooms, so they are not as affected by this, Bringas said: “We are encouraging the private schools to do the same.”
For private schools without air-conditioning units, Bringas urged them to adhere to announcements from DepEd and their local government units (LGUs).
“Ine- encourage natin sila na sundin din yung ating mga protocols para na din sa kaligtasan ng ating mga learners, public man iyan or private (We are encouraging them to follow our protocols for the safety of our learners, whether they are from public or private [institutions],” he said.
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