In-person class suspensions, changes from April 2 due to hot weather

Class suspensions (face-to-face) and adjustments are implemented from April 2 in different cities and provinces nationwide due to the very hot weather. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Face-to-face class suspensions and adjustments were implemented from April 2 in various cities and provinces nationwide due to the very hot weather.

Quezon City said all daycare centers, alternative learning systems, and elementary and secondary levels in public schools will shift to either asynchronous or synchronous classes, while Muntinlupa City said all morning classes from kindergarten to senior high school, including Child Development Centers under Early Childhood Care and Development in public schools were shortened to until 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Muntinlupa also said that afternoon classes in all public schools in the locality were suspended on April 2.

READ: Searing 44°C heat index forecast for Capiz’s Roxas City on April 2

In Bulacan, the towns of Calumpit and Malolos likewise suspended in-person classes.

Calumpit said face-to-face classes in daycare and elementary and secondary levels in public schools were deferred and will shift to either asynchronous or synchronous classes, while Malolos postponed in-person classes until April 3 for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students in public schools. Malolos instructed school heads and supervisors to monitor the conduct of modular or online distance learning during the period.

READ: Teachers’ group to DepEd: Implement measures vs extreme heat

Kabankalan City in Negros Oriental and General Santos City in South Cotabato likewise halted face-to-face classes of all levels in public and private schools on April 2.

Physical class suspensions for all levels of public and private schools in Sultan Kudarat province in Mindanao were also implemented from April 1 to 15 amid blistering weather conditions.

Meanwhile, Manila’s Division of City Schools said teachers and students are now allowed to wear more comfortable clothing other than uniforms in school to lessen the heat they feel.

It likewise gave school principals the freedom to decide on whether to postpone in-person classes or not, or shift to asynchronous classes, since they have the “authority, responsibility, and accountability” to do so.

In Navotas City, its Schools Division Office said all public schools in the locality will implement adjusted class schedules on days when the heat index is at 40 degrees Celsius and above.

For the morning session, classes will be held from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., while the afternoon session for elementary and high school levels will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., respectively.

Regarding Navotas City private schools with air-conditioned classrooms, the local government said their administrators may decide on their own schedules.

Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Rigor Malapitan similarly announced that blended learning will be implemented for all levels in public schools starting noon of April 2 – exempting, however, Grade 6 students who are currently taking their national achievement tests.

The Department of Education, on the other hand, said Dagupan City, Polangui in Albay, Silay City and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental, Bacolod City, Maasin Central School in Maasin City, Leyte, Pagadian City Pilot School in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Buenavista Integrated School in Zamboanga City, Polomolok, South Cotabato, and Maasim, Sarangani likewise announced a shift to an alternative mode of learning as of 9 a.m. on April 2.

Palawan State University (PSU) also advised that official uniform requirements for its students and employees will be deferred until the end of this month in consideration of searing weather conditions.

From April 2 to 30, all employees across PSU campuses are advised to wear “comfortable and suitable” attire, as stipulated under Civil Service Commission Memorandum No. 19, S. 2000, the university said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Many parts of the country have been feeling dangerous levels of heat indices since the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) declared the official onset of the dry season.

In Dagupan City in Pangasinan province, heat index soared 45 degrees Celsius on Monday, April 1.

Some schools likewise suspended in-person classes on April 1 due to high temperatures.

Pagasa defines heat index as “a human discomfort index that gives the apparent temperature on what humans perceive or feel as the temperature (from the surroundings) affecting the body.”

“High air temperature and high relative humidity results to high apparent temperature,” it adds.

Pagasa also said that a heat index of 42 to 51°C falls under the danger category and would likely cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion, while heat stroke is probable with continued heat or sun exposure.