Amid rising temperatures: Schools cut class hours

CEBU, Philippines — T

he Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City Schools Division has confirmed that several schools have already shortened class hours amid rising heat index levels across the city to help students cope with soaring temperatures.

Dr. Nimfa Bongo, Cebu City Schools Division sup

erintendent, said school heads have been given the discretion to adjust class schedules as necessary to ensure students' safety.

"Yes. Naa na. Daghan na…Many of our schools are already shortening the periods of classes," Bongo said when asked if schools had begun implementing shortened class schedules.

The schools implementing shorter schedules include both public and private institutions, with some holding classes from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., she said.

Meanwhile, education and local government officials are awaiting updated guidance from the DepEd central office on when classes should be suspended due to extreme heat.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said the city government would continue following existing policies while awaiting the outcome of discussions between DepEd and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on possible adjustments to heat-related protocols.

Speaking to reporters yesterday after meeting with school representatives, Archival said deciding whether to suspend classes was not a straightforward matter.

"Daghan kaayog mga discussion," he said.

The mayor explained that some teachers and school officials believe public school students may actually be more comfortable inside classrooms than at home.

"Daghan kaayong nag-ingon nga okay kung wala tay klase, especially diri sa mga public school, mas init man sa mga balay sa mga bata. Mas komportable ang mga bata within sa school kay dako man, bakante," Archival said.

"That's one of the things nga akong nadunggan gikan sa mga eskuwelahan sa mga public school."

Private school administrators, meanwhile, have raised a different concern, saying their students are less affected by the heat because their classrooms are air-conditioned.

"Sa mga private school sad, ingon sila nga ang amo mga bata dili kaayo mapiktuhan sa heat index kay naa man sa ilang sulod. Air-conditioned man ang ilang mga eskuwelahan," the mayor said.

Archival also pointed out that sending students home could increase household electricity consumption.

"Karon kon atong papauli-on, kaning mga bata inig uli nila, mag-aircon man sad gyud ni. Naa man ni mga aircon. Mas mudako ang konsumo sa kuryente," he said.

He also cited reports from teachers that some students spend their time outdoors when classes are suspended.

"Naay usa'y ingon sa mga maestra nga ang among mga bata karon nga wa'y klase, tua man nagsuroy-suroy, tuyok-tuok," Archival said.

"So these are things nga naay arguments or concerns nga naa."

Given the differing views, Archival said the city would wait for the results of an upcoming meeting between DepEd and PAGASA officials in Manila.

"Naa may meeting nga pagahimuon sa Manila regarding aning PAGASA report nga mao ni ang buhaton kung kanus-a ta magsuspend. Basin ma-revise pa ni siya in a way," he said.

"So we will wait sa meeting didto sa Manila sa DepEd ug sa PAGASA kon unsa gyuy mugawas nga final guidelines."

In the meantime, school administrators and teachers have been asked to submit position papers detailing the conditions and concerns in their respective institutions.

"Ganina nagsulti lang mga teachers ug mga school administrators muhatag sila sa ilang position paper kay kada eskuwelahan magkalahi man pod ang ilang sitwasyon," Archival said.

He said the city government would consolidate the recommendations of school officials and education supervisors before forwarding them to DepEd.

"Atong ma-collate and magpada kog suwat didto padulong DepEd o padulong sa Manila aron makahibaw sila sa atong concern," he said.

For her part, Bongo said that no new directive had been issued and school heads must continue to follow existing DepEd orders.

"As of now, ang instruction namo sa among school heads is to follow the department order," she said when asked whether decisions on class suspensions had been left to local officials.

Bongo said existing rules already give school principals the discretion to suspend face-to-face classes during periods of extreme heat.

"Naa man gyud sa department order. The principals are given the discretion regarding to suspend the face-to-face classes," she said.

She also expressed hope that the guidelines would be reviewed following consultations between DepEd and PAGASA.

"Hopefully ma-revise ang department order kay according to PAGASA representative kanina, according to him nga ang 33, that is still manageable pa gyud ang temperature instead lang if suspend ka og classes maybe 38 degrees," Bongo said.

To clarify the implementation of existing rules, the Cebu City Schools Division will meet with school officials on Monday.

"We will have a meeting on Monday to clarify things so that in the meantime, wala pa'y changes ang department order, we have to follow what is in the department order," she said.

Bongo said the meeting would focus on arranging subject schedules during shortened class hours.

"Ang among meetingan sa Monday is the scheduling of the subject to be taken up during the shortened classes kay ang uban mag-shorten man sila," she said.

Under existing DepEd guidelines, school heads may adopt localized measures to address extreme heat, including adjusting schedules or shortening face-to-face classes based on conditions in their respective schools. (CEBU NEWS)