DepEd urged: Revert to old school calendar ASAP

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) must speed up the return to the old academic calendar amid widespread suspension of onsite classes due to extreme heat, teachers group Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) reiterated yesterday.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, TDC national chairman Benjo Basas said the reversion to the old academic calendar – where classes run from June to March and school break from April to May – seemed feasible starting this coming school year 2024-2025.

“One of our calls to DepEd is to speed up the reversion to the old school calendar... We think it can already be implemented as early as this upcoming school year, so that by next year, 2025, we won’t have classes in April and May,” Basas said.

The DepEd had earlier issued DepEd Order No. 3 series of 2024, ordering the gradual return to the old academic calendar with the opening of classes for SY 2024-2025 set on July 29, 2024 and closing on May 16, 2025.

DepEd spokesman and Undersecretary Michael Poa had earlier told reporters that the agency eyes full return to the old academic calendar by SY 2026-2027, where classes would open in June.

Basas, however, said there is still time for the DepEd to adjust the calendar for SY 2024-2025 so that classes do not extend to April and May, which are the hottest months of the year.

“We think this is still doable. Because if we will still push through with allowing classes to run until May 16, 2025, we are bound to experience the same dilemma as now – lots of schools will again have to shorten or suspend onsite classes in April and May to protect the students and teachers from the harmful effects of extreme heat,” Basas said.

He said the DepEd must come up with an “optimal scheme” on how to go about adjusting the calendar for SY 2024-2025 such as by incorporating various modes of delivery of lessons, without sacrificing the vacation of teachers.

Nonetheless, Basas said if shortening the vacation of teachers to prepare for a possible earlier date of opening of classes cannot be avoided, the DepEd must provide them necessary compensation such as additional service credits convertible to vacation leave or extra pay.

“The two-month vacation of teachers (every school year) must not be compromised because this is mandated under the existing rules of the DepEd and the Civil Service Commission,” he said.

The DepEd has yet to respond to the media’s request for reaction on the TDC’s proposal for immediate reversion to the old academic calendar.

Class suspensions

Based on DepEd’s data as of Friday, a total of 5,288 schools have suspended onsite classes due to extreme heat, from 4,769 schools on Thursday.

The DepEd said a total of 3.6 million students were affected by the onsite class suspensions.

Western Visayas remains the region with the highest number of schools affected, with 1,287 or about 658,711 students, based on DepEd data.

In Metro Manila, 592,875 students from 279 schools are affected.

Central Luzon has the most number of affected learners, with 1.1 million students from 1,619 schools.

In Ilocos, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Zamboanga peninsula, a little over a million students in 954 schools are affected.

Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Soccsksargen have a combined total of 961 schools suspending onsite classes. The number of affected students has yet to be determined.

The DepEd had earlier reminded schools that they have the authority to suspend onsite classes and shift to alternative delivery modes “in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers and non-teaching personnel.”

Meanwhile, in a memorandum issued on Friday, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has directed all the mayors in the province to suspend classes “indefinitely,” citing the health risks to students brought by the unusually high heat index in the province.

In response to rising temperatures, DepEd’s Taguig and Pateros division office has ordered the relaxation of the dress code for teachers and students in public schools.

In a memorandum issued by Schools Division Superintendent Alejandro Ibañez, several dress code adjustments were adopted, such as allowing students to wear PE uniforms, jogging pants and white shirts as well as authorizing teachers to wear polo shirts to combat extremely high temperatures.

Under the memorandum, outdoor activities during peak heat hours have been strongly discouraged to prevent health-related risks among learners.

‘Dangerous’ heat index

The maximum heat index in Dagupan City reached 45 degrees Celsius, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

This is well within the dangerous levels of the heat index, in which heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely and heat stroke is probable with continued exposure.

PAGASA also warned that dangerous heat index levels could be felt in at least five areas of the country today. Temperatures of between 42 to 43 degrees Celsius are forecast over Romblon City, Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan in Palawan, Masbate City, Dumangas in Iloilo and Catarman in Northern Samar.

State weather forecasters said the easterlies are affecting the country, with scattered rainshowers forecast over Davao region and Soccsksargen.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country may see isolated rainshowers due to the easterlies and some localized thunderstorms.

500,000 people affected

The ongoing El Niño has affected some 500,000 people so far, as almost 20 provinces in the country have expressed intention to declare a state of calamity, El Niño Task Force spokesman Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama said yesterday.

“Not only farmers are affected but also their families. In terms of individuals, the affected are about half a million individuals. So, we are not only providing assistance to the farmers but also to their immediate family,” Villarama said.

“At least 20 provinces are mulling to declare a state of calamity but they need to be qualified in the criteria, including 15 percent of their population are affected, 13 percent of the livelihood suffered and a vital structure or institution is also affected,” Villarama explained.

State of calamity was already declared in the province of Occidental Mindoro; Bulalacao and Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro; San Vicente, Palawan; San Andres, Romblon; Mayoyao, Ifugao; Sibalom, Antique and Zamboanga City.?Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa has said that the damage of El Niño to the agriculture sector in 10 regions has reached P2.63 billion, affecting more than 54,000 farmers as of April 3.

De Mesa added that among the regions affected are Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula and Soccsksargen.

Heat in workplaces

Meanwhile, labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) urged companies to come up with a plan that will address extreme heat levels affecting workers.

In a statement, the TUCP said business establishments should formulate their respective “Heat Risk Action Plan” to protect the health and well-being of workers from the scorching heat in workplaces.

Included in the proposed measures is the provision of “heat breaks,” especially for outdoor workers, developing a “buddy system” where workers shall check on each other’s health condition and regular hydration reminders.

They also suggested conducting heat stress orientation sessions so that workers are educated about identifying the symptoms and appropriate responses to heat stress.

The TUCP said management should also ensure better ventilation in workplaces and that windows should be opened for better air circulation. – Nillicent Bautista, Rhodina Villanueva, Bella Cariaso, Romina Cabrera