DepEd opts for distance learning amid heat

THE Department of Education (DepEd) said that it would implement distance learning in all public schools across the country beginning April 15 due to the extremely hot weather brought by the El Niño phenomenon.

The DepEd added that teachers and non-teaching personnel in all public schools were not required to report on site.

«However, activities organized by regional and schools division offices, such as Regional Athletic Association Meets and other division or school-level programs, to be conducted on the aforementioned dates may push through as scheduled,» it added.

Private schools could shift to distance learning as they deem it necessary.

On Friday, data from the DepEd Central Office said 7,080 schools out of 46,678 schools across the country have already shifted to alternative delivery modes of learning due to high heat index across the country, a notable increase from 5,844 registered on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has reiterated its call to return the school break to April and May.

«For SY 2025-2026, we can start classes by June 23, 2025 and end classes by March 31, 2026 and we will have 188 school days. Then for SY 2026-2027, we can start the classes by June 8, 2026, which completes our reversion to the pre-pandemic calendar,» ACT Chairman Vladimer Quetua said in a statement.

He added that the proposed timeline would reduce the adverse impact on learning and well-being of holding classes amid intense summer heat.

«With nearly 6,000 schools nationwide that have shifted to alternative delivery modes within the first two weeks of April, the data raises alarm on the impact of the escalating heat across the country, affecting student focus, impeding effective teaching and learning, and posing significant health risks to teachers and learners,» Quetua said.