Over 4K schools resort to alternative setups to avert hot-weather injury

OVER 4,000 schools nationwide opted to implement Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) on Thursday amid the extremely hot weather.

The Department of Education (Deped) said that 2,482,507 learners were affected after 4,769 schools have suspended in-person classes.

Regions implementing ADM are: National Capital Region, Regions 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) National has urged the Deped to revert to the June-march school calendar for school year (SY) 2024-2025 instead of the phased transition due to the hot weather.

“The Department of Education should hasten the returrn to the old school calendar where classes start in June and end in March,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said in a video message sent to the media through Viber.

“We think it can be done now, or at least should not take too long to carry out. At least by next school year 2024-2025,” he added.

Under the current Deped plan, Basas explained, there will be a phased transition before the full return to the old school calendar. He noted that the next SY will still end in the last week if May 2025.

When asked for reaction, the Deped issued a statement that the Deped “reiterates the provisions of Department Order 037 issued in 2022, which provides guidelines on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in schools in the event of natural disasters, power outages/power interruptions, and other calamities.”

Specifically, the Deped said, it has given the school heads the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to ADM in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel.

This measure was the subject of Office of the Assistant Secretary for Operations No. 2023-077 issued last 20 April 2023, and Office of the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching and Office of the Undersecretary for Operations Memorandum dated 28 February 2023 ADM in All Public Elementary and Secondary Schools.

“Given that Deped supervises more than 47,000 schools nationwide, it is in the best interest of the learning community to have localized assessments for timely response and interventions to ensure the welfare of learners and personnel,” the Deped concluded.