Maymay, monsoon affect 8,000 schools

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical cyclone Maymay and the southwest monsoon have affected the operations of about 40,000 schools in the country, disrupting classes and forcing evacuees to take shelter in classrooms.

Aside from class suspensions affecting up to eight million learners, the bad weather has caused damage to school properties.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the number of affected schools is high and makeup classes must be conducted to recover school days lost to class suspensions.

Angara said the three-term curriculum allows the conduct of makeup classes before a term ends so students will be able to cope up with the lesson.

“Under the new three-term school year, there are allotted days to make up for the lost days, depending on the lessons taken during the school year. If the lessons cannot be completed, makeup classes must be conducted,” Angara said.

Citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2, Angara said at least 20 to 30 school days were lost due to the suspension of classes.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways must construct more evacuation centers so people displaced by calamities will no longer run to schools for shelter.

Angara said the Department of Education needs at least P252 million for the cleanup, clearing and repair of classrooms damaged by floodwaters spawned by Maymay and the monsoon.