While it recognized the move of the Department of Education (DepEd) reminding schools to shift to distance learning due to extreme heat, a group of teachers pushed for a “more strategic approach” that will address the concern of students and personnel who attend in-person classes during the hottest months of the year.
(DepEd / MB Visual Content Group)
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) issued a statement acknowledging the action taken by the DepEd in response to the constant cries of teachers and children to consider the extreme heat and suspend face-to-face classes.
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In the memorandum signed by DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas issued on April 20, the agency reiterated its policy "to suspend in-person classes and implement modular distance learning in cases of unfavorable weather and environment such as, but not limited to, extremely high temperatures which may considerably affect the conduct of classroom learning and put the learners' health and wellbeing at risk.”
However, TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said that a “more strategic approach” is needed to address the issue.
For example, he mentioned lowering the class size to no more than 25 students. TDC also suggested the construction of “more stable classrooms designed for student comfort and provision of electric fans or even air -conditioning system.”
To implement such adjustments, he noted that “funds and policies” will have to be in place.
Reverting to the old school calendar
The DepEd’s reiteration of the policy came after some school children fainted in Laguna and Mindoro due to the extreme heat.
Before the implementation of distance learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic, public schools held classes from June to March. They spend “summer” vacation from April to May.
With the resumption of in-person classes, groups of teachers and even parents called for DepEd to return to the old school calendar.
However, TDC pointed out that it will take at least four years to gradually return to the old school calendar where the months of April and May are designated as school breaks.
“For now the alternative methods that can be used are shortened teaching time and modular and online learning,” Basas, who is also a teacher in Caloocan City, said.
Basas also noted that returning to the old academic calendar “would require adjustments that could take years to implement, while the suffering of teachers and students is felt in real-time.”
Related to this, TDC reiterated that public school teachers “have the right to a two-month school break that could be compromised if DepEd immediately reverts to the old system.”
The group cited DepEd Order No. 34, s. 2022, which sets the August opening of the school calendar for the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 school years.
“We need to fix it and make sure that the welfare of our teachers is taken into account before implementing the return to the old school calendar,” Basas said.
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