DepEd reminds LGUs to follow class suspension guidelines

FILE: Students use umbrellas to shield themselves from drizzle on Scout Ybardolaza Street, Quezon City. (PNA photo by Alfred Frias)

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated that local government units (LGUs) must implement the latest class suspension guidelines in times of typhoon and other calamities issued in September.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa reminded LGUs on Friday of the department’s aim to maximize learning recovery now that students slowly return to in-person classes.

Public schools nationwide will implement full face-to-face classes by November 2 while private institutions may resort to blended learning.

Despite the various challenges, DepEd remains steadfast in its goal to provide accessible and quality basic education for all but enjoined the LGUs’ cooperation.

“Help our learners recover from learning losses and suspend classes only during public emergencies, severe weather disturbances, and calamities,” he said.

Poa appealed to LGUs to support DepEd efforts for continuous learning for children as Tropical Storm Paeng lashed Luzon and Visayas on Friday after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake shook Abra on Tuesday, which resulted in class suspensions.

“DepEd is against the unnecessary cancellation of classes and the use of our schools as billeting areas for events that are not related to the curriculum,” he said in a statement. “Your support affords uninterrupted class sessions for our learners, and helps our teachers avoid unnecessary make-up classes, which pose an additional burden to their teaching load.”

In September, DepEd issued Department Order 37 or the 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.

The guidelines state that in-person and online classes from kindergarten to Grade 12 and work are automatically suspended in schools situated in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Nos. 1 to 5; or when the weather bureau issues orange (intense) and red (torrential) rainfall warnings, or flood warning.

During earthquakes, in-person, online classes, and work from kindergarten to Grade 12 and Alternative Learning Systems are automatically canceled in schools situated in LGUs with Intensity Scale 5 (strong) or above declared by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Local chief executives may decide on the cancellation of classes when there are strong winds but no TCWS was issued, when there are torrential rains in specific areas or when there is flooding even if no warning has been issued.