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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd eyes unified #WalangPasok guidelines to protect students, sustain learning amid climate disruptions

DepEd eyes unified #WalangPasok guidelines to protect students, sustain learning amid climate disruptions

Published Nov 4, 2025 04:20 pm
DepEd officials, guided by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara, meet with DILG, CHED, DOST-PSHS, and EDCOM II representatives to craft a unified and timely guideline for class suspension announcements. (Photo from DepEd)
DepEd officials, guided by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara, meet with DILG, CHED, DOST-PSHS, and EDCOM II representatives to craft a unified and timely guideline for class suspension announcements. (Photo from DepEd)
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, November 4, said it is working with other government agencies to establish a unified and timely protocol for class suspension announcements, emphasizing the need to balance student safety with the continuity of learning.
In an inter-agency meeting with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), and the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), DepEd moved to craft a national standard for class suspensions to ensure clarity, consistency, and minimal learning disruptions.
As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted, Education Secretary Sonny Angara underscored the need to confront and prepare for the challenges that disasters pose to education.
DepEd works with DILG, CHED, and EDCOM II to create unified class suspension guidelines, balancing student safety and learning amid climate disruptions. (Photo from DepEd)
DepEd works with DILG, CHED, and EDCOM II to create unified class suspension guidelines, balancing student safety and learning amid climate disruptions. (Photo from DepEd)
“Hindi natin kayang pigilan ang bagyo, pero kaya nating paghusayin ang ating paghahanda para maging mabilis, malinaw, at maayos ang mga desisyon kapag kaligtasan at kinabukasan na ng mga bata ang nakataya (We cannot stop the storms, but we can improve our preparedness so that decisions are swift, clear, and orderly when the safety and future of our children are at stake),” he said.
READ: 
https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/14/deped-to-lgus-balance-safety-and-learning-in-class-suspension-decisions
Data show link between lost school days and learning gaps
DepEd cited findings from the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), which revealed that every additional day of school closure can lower a Grade 4 student’s achievement by up to 12.4 points in mathematics and 13.9 points in science.
Agencies join forces to strengthen coordination on class suspensions — ensuring that local decisions are guided by clear, consistent, and science-based information for the safety and learning continuity of students. (Photo from DepEd)
Agencies join forces to strengthen coordination on class suspensions — ensuring that local decisions are guided by clear, consistent, and science-based information for the safety and learning continuity of students. (Photo from DepEd)
Missing just 10 days of learning could drop a child’s science score from 500 to below 380, DepEd pointed out.
EDCOM II data further showed that during School Year 2023–2024, the Philippines lost over 20 school days due to climate-related events, disrupting classes for more than 11 million learners — equivalent to 42 percent of the public school population.
DepEd said this pattern “reflects the worsening impact of the climate crisis on education.”
READ: 
https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/21/why-walangpasok-isnt-always-a-win-for-students-deped-warns-of-serious-learning-loss
Given this, Angara emphasized the urgent need to adapt to these challenges. “Disasters will keep coming, but learning should not stop,” he said. “We need clear, coordinated, and science-based decisions that keep our students both safe and learning,” he added.
Stronger coordination and adaptive learning strategies
During the meeting, agencies agreed to develop a DILG advisory template to help local governments release consistent suspension announcements.
DepEd will also require regional and division offices to report the frequency and impact of class suspensions, and publish official data on lost school days to inform both national and local education policies.
DepEd leads an inter-agency meeting with DILG, CHED, DOST-PSHS, and EDCOM II to enhance communication protocols and balance learner safety with sustained education amid weather disturbances and emergencies. (Photo from DepEd)
DepEd leads an inter-agency meeting with DILG, CHED, DOST-PSHS, and EDCOM II to enhance communication protocols and balance learner safety with sustained education amid weather disturbances and emergencies. (Photo from DepEd)
The department is likewise enhancing its make-up class policy and expanding Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM) to ensure learning continues even when in-person classes are suspended.
While online and modular learning have helped mitigate disruptions, DepEd noted that these methods cannot fully replace face-to-face instruction, especially for younger learners.
“We understand that safety must always come first,” Angara said. “But we also need to be ready to help students recover from lost time. Our goal is to make every day of learning count — rain or shine,” he added. 
RELATED STORY: 
https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/13/deped-preventive-class-suspensions-ensure-school-safety-disaster-preparedness

Related Tags

DepEd Walang Pasok class suspension guidelines Sonny Angara class suspension policy Philippines make-up classes DepEd education continuity Philippines
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