Online classes during calamities instead of suspension

MANILA, Philippines — To avoid learning disruptions, class suspensions during disasters will only be on the face-to-face component, with the students expected to continue their education at home, an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said.

“Before, if there is a typhoon, classes are immediately suspended… But right now, to maximize learning continuity since we are on learning recovery mode, we do not suspend classes,” DepEd Undersecretary and spokesman Michael Poa said in a mix of English and Filipino during the post-State of the Nation Address forum on July 26.

“What we suspend right now is in-person classes. But our learners continue with their education at home using what we call alternative delivery modes, whether modules, blended or online learning,” he added.

Under the updated guidelines on the cancellation of classes issued by DepEd last year, “in the event of cancelled or suspended classes, modular distance learning, performance tasks, projects or make up classes shall be implemented to ensure that learning competencies and objectives are still met.”

The policy stated that “in-person, online classes and work” in public elementary and high schools are automatically suspended in areas under tropical cyclone wind signals, orange and red rainfall warning and flood warning.

Automatic cancellations are also implemented in areas under Intensity 5 or above following an earthquake.

The agency also issued a memorandum earlier this year allowing schools to shift to alternative delivery modes during extreme weather conditions, including during days when high temperature affects the learning environment.

Poa said the DepEd is using the lessons learned from the pandemic, such as the implementation of blended learning, to address issues in basic education.