Bad weather class suspension policy to be reviewed

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara has ordered a review of the Department of Education (DepEd)’s policy on class suspension during typhoons, saying there must be a balance between ensuring the safety of students and teachers and preventing further increases in the number of school days lost.

In an interview with Radyo Singko 92.3 News FM yesterday, Education Undersecretary for governance and field operations Revsee Escobedo said Angara wanted the review to be done “immediately” following several days of class suspensions due to six tropical cyclones that hit the country late October into November.

“His instruction was that by next week, we should report our draft amendments to DO (DepEd Order) 37 (s. 2022),” Escobedo said, referring to the current policy of DepEd on class suspensions.

Under DO 37, local chief executives have the discretion to suspend classes in times of typhoons, heavy rainfall and flooding and schools would have to abide by the local government’s class suspension order.

The DepEd order states that in-person classes, online classes and work from Kindergarten to Grade 12 as well as in the Alternative Learning System are automatically canceled if the schools are situated in local government units (LGUs) under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 which is issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In cases where there are strong winds in specific or all areas of the LGU but no TCWS is issued by PAGASA, the local chief executive “shall decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes.”

The local chief executives, under the same DO, shall also decide on the cancellation or suspension of classes in cases where there is flooding in specific or all areas in their locality but no flood warning issued by PAGASA.

Observance of DO 37 is mandatory for all public schools but private schools, community learning centers as well as state and local universities and colleges “have the option to abide” by the order.

Escobedo admitted that DO 37 may no longer be practical or responsive to the true situation on the ground.

The DepEd saw that the automatic suspension on areas under Signal No. 1 has a drastic effect on classes with school days being lost even if there is fair weather in the area.

The DepEd is planning to have a meeting with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and PAGASA in connection with its plan to revise DO 37.

“What Secretary Angara wants is to have a balance between prioritizing the safety and welfare of our teachers and learners, but on the other hand, ensure that the class suspensions are reasonable and would not further exacerbate the learning crisis that we are currently in,” Escobedo said.

He revealed that based on the DepEd’s latest data, up to 36 learning days were lost due to class suspensions in several schools nationwide caused by recent typhoons and other natural calamities since the opening of the school year in July up to this month.

Escobedo said among the remedies that the DepEd is eyeing are the conduct of make-up classes, longer class hours per day as well as shortened academic break.

“Some regional directors, especially in Region 5, Region 6 and CAR, have already committed to conduct make-up classes on Saturdays. Other schools said they would allot additional time. For example, in Kinder, the four hours (of classes) a day will be five hours a day to compensate for the lost days,” he stated.

“Other regional directors said their academic break on Nov. 25 to 29 will instead be used for make-up classes,” he added.

The education official further said Angara instructed the concerned units of DepEd to strengthen the agency’s dynamic learning program, especially the alternative modes of delivering lessons to students.

P58 million sought for teacher council

Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian appealed for an additional P58 million that will be allocated to the Teacher Education Council (TEC), a body tasked with improving the quality of education and training for teachers.

“I am appealing for this additional P58 million to fully equip the Teacher Education Council. I truly believe that this is a low-hanging fruit and an immediate reform in terms of strengthening and empowering our teachers, especially when it comes to training and locating good potential teachers to come into the system,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on basic education.

He said the TEC has so much power in improving the teaching capabilities of our education system.

Of the requested P58 million, P28 million will be for the hiring of 28 personnel who will be detailed under the TEC Secretariat.

Though the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the new positions this year, the corresponding funding requirements were not reflected in the General Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2025.

Meanwhile, the other P30 million will be allocated for the TEC’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, which will cover research activities, consultations, dialogues, benchmarking, workshops and validation activities. –  Cecille Suerte Felipe