MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered the implementation of distance learning or asynchronous classes for all 47,678 public schools nationwide on April 15 and 16.
“In order to allow learners to complete pending assignments, projects and other requirements as the end of school year is fast approaching, all public schools nationwide shall implement asynchronous classes/distance learning on April 15-16, 2024,” an advisory released by the DepEd yesterday read.
“Likewise, teaching and non-teaching personnel in all public schools shall not be required to report to their respective stations,” it added.
The DepEd said private schools are not covered by the advisory though they may opt to implement the same.
DepEd clarified that activities organized by Regional and Schools Division Offices (RDOs and SDOs), such as Regional Athletic Association Meets and other division or school level programs which fall on April 15 and 16 “may push through as scheduled.”
An official memorandum containing the advisory has been sent to all RDOs and SDOs, the DepEd said.
Meanwhile, 7,080 public schools nationwide have suspended onsite classes as of yesterday due to the extreme summer heat aggravated by the El Niño phenomenon.
Central Luzon has the highest number of schools that suspended onsite classes at 1,903 followed by Central Visayas, 870; Western Visayas, 862; Ilocos region, 713; Bicol region, 664 and Soccsksargen, 488.
In Metro Manila, a total of 311 schools have suspended their onsite classes and shifted to ADM.
A combined total of 1,269 schools in Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Zamboanga peninsula, Cordillera Administrative Region, Eastern Visayas, Davao region, Cagayan Valley and Northern Mindanao have also suspended their onsite classes and switched to ADM.
Only Caraga region has no recorded suspension of classes due to extreme heat.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration had earlier warned that the heat index being felt across the country is expected to increase further and reach a dangerous level in May.
Calendar shift
The DepEd remains mum on the proposal of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) for immediate reversion to the old academic calendar starting this coming school year.
Both teachers’ groups said the immediate reversion to the old school calendar, wherein classes run from June to March and vacation from April to May, is doable as early as SY 2024-2025 without sacrificing the vacation of students and teachers.
Instead of shortening the vacation, the TDC and ACT proposed shortened school days of about 170 to 175 days for SY 2024-2025, not far from the adjusted SY 2023-2024 calendar that only consists of 179 school days.