• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Department of Education-Negros Island Region (DepEd-NIR) is implementing a 4H Learning Continuity protocol to ensure uninterrupted learning despite the rising heat index levels across the region.
DepEd director Ramir Uytico said that while local government units and disaster management teams handle safety protocols, the Education Department remains focused on fulfilling its core teaching mandate.
“The mandate of the Department of Education is teaching and learning, so despite the rising heat index, we will make sure that even if the children stay at home, learning will continue,” he said.
Under the new policy, schools will adjust instructional delivery using four operational tiers: Hayo for normal face-to-face classes, Hinay for flexible module- or online-based learning during moderate disruptions, Hinga for reduced academic workloads prioritizing student well-being during severe heat, and Hinto for complete class suspensions under unsafe conditions.
Uytico noted that lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic equipped schools to adapt quickly, ensuring that students remain academically engaged through distance modalities when in-person classes become impractical.
DepEd-NIR, meanwhile, is consolidating reports regarding teachers and students experiencing heat-related illnesses during class hours, with verified figures to be released once fully validated. | TMD
