DepEd Authorizes Suspension of Classes Due to El Niño Heat
The Department of Education (DepEd) has granted local authorities the discretion to suspend face-to-face classes in areas experiencing extreme heat due to the El Niño phenomenon.
DepEd Assistant Secretary and Deputy Spokesperson Francis Bringas clarified this on Tuesday following Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez’s announcement of the suspension of face-to-face classes in all public and private schools, as well as universities in the area, due to the high heat index forecast by PAGASA for March 11, Monday, and March 12, Tuesday.
Bringas mentioned that similar incidents had occurred last year, prompting the issuance of directives to field offices allowing them to suspend face-to-face classes during periods of high heat index.
“Last year we had a similar situation and we issued directives for our field offices that they may suspend face-to-face classes… if the heat becomes unbearable in their schools,” Bringas stated in an interview on TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
He also noted that students’ learning wouldn’t be halted because if there is indeed a suspension of face-to-face classes, schools will automatically switch to modular distance learning.
Furthermore, Bringas added that local government officials and school heads are authorized to announce suspensions based on the heat index forecast by the state weather bureau.
He explained that PAGASA uses a scale to measure the heat, and when it is determined that the temperature is excessively high, it becomes necessary to suspend classes in schools.