As temperatures soar across the country, Education Secretary Sonny Angara has ordered immediate measures to protect learners and teachers from the sweltering heat.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is rolling out interventions to ensure learning continues safely, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s reminder to ensure uninterrupted learning despite environmental challenges.
“Siyempre po laging handa ang pamahalaan patungkol dito. Kung ito po ay makakaapekto sa ekonomiya natin, tayo ay laging handa tungkol diyan,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Malacanang Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said in a recent press briefing in Malacañang.
To mitigate the effects of extreme heat, DepEd has instructed field offices and schools to take preventive actions, including adjusting class schedules, adopting alternative delivery modes if necessary, improving classroom ventilation, and ensuring access to hydration stations.
“We are closely coordinating with our field offices to assess the situation in schools and determine the best course of action given the extreme heat.”
“We are deeply concerned about our learners’ and teachers’ safety. We are closely coordinating with our field offices to assess the situation in schools and determine the best course of action given the extreme heat,” Secretary Sonny Angara said.
Schools are advised to conduct morning sessions from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., allow asynchronous learning from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and hold afternoon sessions from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Additional rest and hydration breaks are encouraged, particularly in non-air-conditioned classrooms.
DepEd also underscores the importance of keeping classrooms well-ventilated.
Schools are advised to maximize natural ventilation by opening windows, removing obstructions that restrict airflow, and installing additional fans and cooling devices.
Other safety measures include limiting outdoor activities during peak heat hours, ensuring access to potable water, and providing first-aid kits with cooling packs and emergency thermometers. Health personnel are tasked with monitoring cases of heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, exhaustion, and stroke.
“There is no automatic suspension of classes due to extreme heat.”
In terms of suspension, DepEd clarifies that there is no automatic suspension of classes due to extreme heat under its current policy. However, local chief executives may declare class suspensions in affected areas. In this scenario, schools will shift to alternative learning performance-based tasks, or make-up classes to ensure that learning competencies are still met.
In case there is no automatic suspension of classes and in the absence of a declaration from the LGU, DepEd’s policy also allows school heads and ALS coordinators to suspend in-person classes if excessive heat poses health risks to students and teachers.
Offices and schools are instructed to prepare and use self-learning modules (SLMs) and Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) tools in case of shift to ADM.
“We are ensuring that education continues—whether through flexible learning options or direct interventions. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our learners and teachers,” Angara emphasized.
