As temperatures soar across the country, Education Secretary Sonny Angara has ordered immediate measures to protect learners and teachers from the sweltering heat, the lingering effects of Mt. Kanlaon’s unrest, and a rising dengue outbreak.
The Department of Education is rolling out interventions to ensure that learning continues safely, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s reminder to ensure uninterrupted learning despite environmental challenges.
To mitigate the effects of extreme heat, the 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 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,” Angara said in a statement March 5.
Schools are advised to conduct morning sessions from 6 to 10, allow asynchronous learning from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and hold afternoon sessions from 2 to 6 p.m. Additional rest and hydration breaks are encouraged, particularly in non-air-conditioned classrooms.
The 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.
In terms of suspension, DepEd clarified 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.
Angara, meanwhile, reminded schools to strictly implement the Department of Health’s 5S Strategy, as outlined in a recent DepEd memorandum.
These include searching and destroying mosquito breeding sites, practicing self-protection measures, seeking early consultation for symptoms, supporting fogging only in outbreak situations, and sustaining hydration.
DepEd is urging schools to work closely with local government units and health agencies to monitor cases and enforce preventive measures. Schools and regional offices are expected to coordinate with health officials to ensure prompt responses to dengue cases among students and school personnel.
The DepEd said it is likewise addressing the challenges posed by Mt. Kanlaon’s restiveness, which has disrupted education in Western and Central Visayas since December 2024.
As of March 5, the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service said that 11 schools are still being used as evacuation centers, affecting 11,177 students and 441 personnel.
These schools are implementing alternative delivery modalities due to the ongoing impact of the eruption.
Angara has assured continued monitoring of the situation and the provision of necessary support for affected schools.
He has directed the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service to conduct a consultation meeting with Schools Division Offices in regions VI and VII to assess the most pressing needs before conducting a field visit later this month.
“With these overlapping challenges, 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 stressed. ||
