A teachers'group pointed out'concerningeffects'stemming from classes held in April and Maywhichincludedextreme heat, health risks for teachers and learners, and the frequent suspension of face-to-faceclasses.
DepEdwas urgedto shorten the school calendar --- a solution that will'not compromise'the school break.
Aside from shortened school days, the group is also pushing for the'swift'return to the old school calendarto ensure learning continuity and the safety of teachers and learners.
Addressing extreme heat in schools: Group proposes shortened school days, return to old calendar
Apr 29, 2024 06:54 AM
At a glance
Amid the suspension of face-to-face classes due to intense heat in thousands of schools, a teachers’ group on Monday, April 29, proposed shortening school days and the “swift” return to the old school calendar to ensure learning continuity and the safety of teachers and learners.
“Recent observations have revealed concerning effects stemming from classes held in April and May, including extreme heat, health risks for teachers and learners, and the frequent suspension of face-to-face classes,” the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said in a statement.
Face-to-face classes suspended, shift to distance learning
TDC pointed out that due to extreme heat, the DepEd Central Office has already declared a total of five days of suspension of face-to-face classes nationally.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/28/no-face-to-face-classes-on-april-29-to-30-dep-ed
Aside from the DepEd-declared suspension of on-site classes, TDC said there have been “numerous shifts” to alternative delivery modes (ADMs) initiated by local government units and DepEd field offices.
In February, DepEd released its Order No. 3 series of 2024, which laid the groundwork for the gradual return to our traditional school calendar---specifically the holding of classes for School Year (SY) 2024-2025 to start on July 29 and will end on May 16, 2025.
While TDC acknowledged the earlier decision of the DepEd to gradually revert to the old school calendar, where the school break falls during April and May, the hottest months of the year, the group is pushing for the reversion of the old school calendar earlier than DepEd has scheduled.
“Considering these issues, we strongly believe it is now necessary to modify said Order and expedite the return to the June-March school calendar to prevent the recurrence of similar consequences in 2025, as we have experienced in 2023 and continue to endure presently,” TDC said.
Possible solutions
As it pushes for the swift return to the old school calendar, TDC said it acknowledges the importance of not compromising the end-of-school-year break or the vacation of both teachers and students, as Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte earlier emphasized.
READ:
“Hence, our proposal does not seek to interrupt that period, which is a matter of right for our teachers and necessity for our learners,” TDC said. “Instead, we aim to shorten the school calendar, a solution that doesn't compromise the school break,” it added.
TDC explained the adjusted school calendar for SY 2023-2024 only consists of 179 days---from August 29, 2023, to May 31, 2024.
“Notably, the 4th quarter began on April 1 and will conclude on May 31, further shortened by various end-of-school-year activities and the suspension of face-to-face classes,” TDC said. “Nevertheless, it is theoretically feasible to implement two full months of schooling per quarter,” the group added.
Considering these, TDC is proposing to expedite the return to the old calendar, with SY 2024–2025 serving as the transition period.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/4/dep-ed-urged-to-adopt-the-june-march-calendar-for-incoming-school-year
“Our suggested timeline involves ending the school year on April 11, 2025, earlier than DepEd's planned date of May 16, 2025,” TDC said.
This arrangement, the group said, would use only two weeks of April for classes and spare the entire month of May.
“By our calculations, this approach would cover approximately 174 days, not far from the 179 days of the current academic year or SY 2023–2024,” TDC said.
“If there is a shortfall, DepEd could explore solutions, such as implementing 10 asynchronous Saturday classes to meet the traditional 180-day requirement,” it added.
For TDC, this proposal offers the “most effective response” to the current crisis because it will ensure that teachers' and students' vacations remain “uncompromised and alleviates concerns regarding the intense heat” in April and May.
“Additionally, it allows for the optimization of face-to-face classes without frequent delays,” it added.
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