Class suspensions: Grades of Math, Science learners drop

MANILA, Philippines — Frequent class suspensions have led to a 12 to 14-percent decline in Math and Science grades among Grade 4 students, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) revealed yesterday.

Aside from the decline, the commission said the suspensions resulted in learning losses equivalent to half to a full school year, with 30 percent of school days in 2023-2024 lost.

“The school closures have a big effect on the grades of a student. Majority of these (class suspensions) were due to typhoons, earthquakes and other calamities,” EDCOM 2 noted, adding that 32 days were due to calamities and 12 due to non-teaching tasks.

Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) warned that prolonged suspension of face-to-face classes could disrupt students’ learning and development, following Gov. Sol Aragones’ order to suspend in-person classes in all levels in Laguna, citing the need for heightened disaster preparedness.

Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) legal counsel Joseph Noel Estrada questioned this decision, saying: “Laguna governor should publicize what the provincial government will do during the two-week suspension of classes as part of disaster preparedness and what it seeks to accomplish after.”

To address the learning crisis, DepEd, for its part, has strengthened its partnership with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to ensure class suspension decisions are guided by scientific data, localized risk assessments and safety standards.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, meanwhile, urged schools to strengthen academic recovery strategies.

“Schools are encouraged to strengthen their… flexible learning options, lesson compression and continuity plans to minimize learning loss. Let us work together to keep learning going, rain or shine, and ensure every learner’s progress despite disruptions,” the association said.

Health break

Aside from Laguna, several local government units have also suspended classes due to rising flu and respiratory illness cases.

Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan suspended classes in all levels, both public and private, on Oct. 16 and 17 to serve as a “health break” amid a surge in influenza-like illness, severe respiratory infection and pneumonia in the province.

Meanwhile, Cavite Gov. Abeng Remulla yesterday suspended face-to-face classes in all levels, both public and private, from Oct. 15 to 18 “to give way to influenza-like illness surveillance and preparation for The Big One.”

“During the suspension of face-to-face classes, the alternative delivery mode will be implemented like online classes and modular learning to ensure the uninterrupted learning of the learners,” Remulla announced.

“This move is a proactive effort to protect the health and safety of each Caviteño,” he added.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) yesterday likewise urged DepEd to postpone the upcoming In-Service Training (INSET) and instead allow a total health break for educators amid the rise in flu and other illnesses affecting schools nationwide.

TDC chairman Benjo Basas said DepEd should suspend the conduct of the INSET scheduled from Oct. 27 to 31 and allow teachers to fully enjoy their health and wellness break, as provided under DepEd Order 12, Series of 2025.

“However, the same order also recommends the holding of INSET during this period, placing school and division leaders in a dilemma, many of whom opt to conduct INSET for compliance,” he said.

As a result, he noted, many schools still plan to hold mandatory INSET sessions, effectively defeating the purpose of giving teachers time to rest and recover.

“Teachers, just like their students, deserve this break. After months of continuous work, from lesson preparation and actual classroom teaching to paperwork and assessments, our teachers need time to rest and recharge,” he added.

While the INSET is meant to improve teachers’ professional competencies, Basas said it may not be practical to conduct it during a supposed wellness period.

“In fact, teachers will still spend the week completing school-related tasks such as finalizing learners’ performance outputs and grades for the second quarter, leaving them with no real break at all,” he said.

He urged the DepEd to review how the INSET is being implemented, noting that the program is funded by public money and should genuinely serve its purpose of developing teachers, not adding to their workload and fatigue.

Basas also acknowledged that INSET can be an opportunity for meaningful discussions on teachers’ welfare, advocacies and issues in the education sector, but only if school heads are supportive and faculty organizations are empowered to assert their rights. –  Michelle Zoleta