Manila LGU shortens classes to protect public school students from dangerous heat
The Division of City Schools-Manila released on Tuesday, April 9, a memorandum on the implementation of shortened classes in public schools in the city from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting on April 11 until May 28.


Manila Chief Education Supervisor Nerissa R. Lomeda signed Division Memorandum No. 140 to spare students from the dangerous heat index that is currently being experienced in the country.
It stated that schools are encouraged to re-calibrate the class schedules according to the time allotment prescribed in Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 21, s. 2019, or the Policy Guidelines on the K–12 Basic Education Program.
It also stated that “Public Schools District Supervisors (PSDS) are engaged to provide technical assistance to schools in the development of re-programmed schedules, including, but not limited to, blended modality, ensuring that parameters are strictly met.”
“It must be noted that teachers shall report to school, regardless of the implemented modality, either to conduct online teaching, prepare activity sheets, check and record learners' output, monitor learners' progress, or fulfill year-end tasks," the memo read.
DCS-Manila suggested a re-programmed schedule for reference, but it ordered all schools to submit their re-programmed schedule to the assigned PSDS for information, monitoring, and supervision of classes.

However, it noted that school heads, in collaboration with the School Parents-Teachers Association (SPTA) and faculty clubs, are not precluded from designing a class program that will best fit the context of the schools.
The division memorandum also called for the proper dissemination of the information to all school stakeholders on the schedule change.