DepEd: 26 school days lost to recent cyclones, calamities

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 26 learning days were lost due to class suspensions in several schools nationwide caused by recent typhoons and other natural calamities, according to latest data from the Department of Education.

Based on the DepEd’s consolidated data released yesterday, almost all regions in the country have recorded class suspensions or “school days lost” from August to October.

Among the natural calamities that prompted schools to suspend their classes were bad weather due to the southwest monsoon and Taal Volcano smog in August; enhanced southwest monsoon, tropical cyclones Ferdie and Gener, Tropical Depression Enteng, Tropical Storm Helen as well as the transport strike in September; and Tropical Depression Julian, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Typhoon Leon in October.

The regional breakdown showed that schools in Calabarzon were the most affected by the recent calamities with 26 school days lost, followed by schools in Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon both with 24 and Cordillera Administrative Region with 23.

Schools in the Ilocos Region had a total of 22 lost school days while schools in Metro Manila had 17.

Other regions that suffered from lost school days are Bicol Region (16), Mimaropa (15), Western Visayas (14), Central Visayas (11), Zamboanga Peninsula (10), Eastern Visayas (5), Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Davao Region with three lost school days each and Soccsksargen with two.

In the same consolidated data, the DepEd said 492 classrooms were totally damaged by Kristine and Leon, while 1,147 were partially damaged and in need of major repairs.

A total of 2,445 partially damaged classrooms need minor repairs.

The DepEd pegged the estimated cost for the reconstruction of each of the totally damaged classrooms at P2.5 million, while the estimated cost for the major repair of partially damaged classroom is P500,000.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted the need for the education sector to map out a more flexible and calamity-resilient mode of learning for students.

“We cannot simply rely on the resilience of our communities. Our planning systems must adapt – and adapt quickly – to our new reality. Our education systems must be stable and predictable even in times of emergency,” Angara said in a speech at the Regional Conference – Educational Planning in Asia-Pacific held in Quezon City yesterday.

On the part of the DepEd, he disclosed that the agency had already planned out an alternative delivery mode of learning in regions affected by the recent calamities, set for pilot implementation this month.

“Even before the storms hit, we were already in search of an alternative program that can be adapted to resource-strapped schools. Our rationale was clear: Filipino learners – our region’s learners – cannot endure any more losses,” Angara said, referring to the DepEd’s Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) set for pilot implementation in schools in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) starting this month, “to support education continuity.”

Schools in these regions were the ones severely affected by the recent onslaught of Kristine and Leon.

Under the DLP, affected schools shall have the flexibility to conduct make-up classes and utilize DLP learning activity sheets in temporary learning spaces.

The DepEd said the activity sheets are designed to be “simple, targeted and adaptable.”

The program’s features also include parallel classes, activity-based engagement, student portfolios and a reduced homework policy.

“The program encourages learners to engage deeply with lessons and build essential skills like writing, problem-solving and critical thinking,” the DepEd said in a statement.

It added that the program seeks to “restore educational opportunities for students” through “resilient and adaptable” learning practices.

Angara earlier admitted that the DepEd was quite alarmed by the frequent class suspensions due to typhoons and other calamities, thus there must be a thorough assessment of the total number of missed schools days as compared to the available dates for possible make-up classes, before it becomes too late for the students.

“Actually, we are getting concerned, so we ordered the collation of figures on the number of classes, how many of these classes were cancelled. Let’s say about 20 classes were cancelled, how many make-up classes can the student take?” Angara said in an earlier interview with reporters.

“We are concerned that it may come to a point that because of so many missed classes, they (students) can no longer recover [the learning days lost]. So, that’s our concern right now,” he added.