DepEd suspends F2F classes due to heat, PUJ strike

MANILA, Philippines — Onsite classes in public schools have been suspended today and tomorrow due to the extreme heat forecast nationwide and the transport strike, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

“In view of the latest heat index forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and the announcement of a nationwide transport strike, all public schools nationwide shall implement asynchronous classes/distance learning on April 29 and 30, 2024,” DepEd said yesterday.

Public school teachers and personnel are not required to report to schools, DepEd added.

Activities organized by Regional and Schools Division Offices such as athletic meets and other programs could still push through as scheduled “provided that measures for the safety of all participants have been carefully considered,” the agency noted.

Private schools may implement the same measures during the same period, DepEd said.

Onsite classes have been suspended for most of April due to intense heat that made classroom conditions too harsh for learning.

DepEd has since instructed schools to implement alternative delivery modes should the extreme heat render classroom instruction unbearable for students and teachers.

Education sector unions, groups and other stakeholders have been calling on the DepEd to abandon its current phased transition toward the old school calendar but the agency remains firm in its decision to slowly revert.

DepEd is currently ironing out details of the immediate transition with President Marcos as he earlier said his administration is open to immediately reverting to the old school calendar to avoid harsh classroom conditions amid extreme heat during summer.

Both the Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition have presented proposals to immediately shift to the old calendar in the coming school year 2024-2025 without affecting the school break and school days.

Earlier, various groups called for the return to the old school calendar, citing the heat experienced by students during March and April.

Lawmakers sought to intervene by filing proposals to shift to the old calendar, stressing the