Senate hearing on extreme heat set today

MANILA, Philippines — With 4,000 face-to-face classes suspended, a Senate panel will conduct a hearing today to discuss the effects of extreme heat on learners and the shift to alternative delivery modes.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is also asking the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education to revert to the pre-pandemic calendar this coming school year instead of a gradual return in SY 2025-2026.

“The almost unbearable rise in temperature for the summer and the recurring cancellation of face-to-face classes are both compelling reasons to fast-track the return to a June-March academic calendar and spare students, as well as teachers, from the ill effects of the extreme heat,” Zubiri said.

“Aside from exposing our students and teachers to the dangers of extreme heat, I honestly believe that the prevailing weather conditions during summer are not conducive to learning,” he added.

Zubiri said he has withdrawn Senate Bill No. 788 filed at the start of the 19th Congress, which synchronizes the school year to start in August.

“In an ideal world, we do want to be in sync with international school calendars to give our students a better chance at getting into programs abroad,” he said.

“But the reality is that the August calendar has proven to be disruptive to our education system and even dangerous to the health of our children and school staff,” he noted.

When class suspensions due to extreme heat started on April 4, 4,000 schools suspended face-to-face classes and switched to asynchronous and distance learning modes, he recalled.

A week later on April 12, 7,000 schools suspended classes, in both cases affecting more than a million students, he added.

The Senate committee on basic education will conduct a hearing today.

Panel chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said that while schools have the option to implement remote learning, the shift to alternative delivery modes also poses challenges.

He cited the lack of internet access in some households and the difficulties hounding parents in supporting their children in a remote learning setup.

“There are parents who do not agree with online or blended learning because their child is not