PUP shifting to online classes till April 30 amid heat, transport strikes

Aerial shot of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila (File photo from the Facebook page of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines)

MANILA, Philippines — The Polytechnic University of Philippines (PUP) will temporarily shift to online classes amid the extreme heat and due to the upcoming transport strikes.

In an advisory posted on its official Facebook page, PUP mandated all its campuses to shift to online classes starting April 15 until 30.

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“In consideration of the high heat index being experienced in the whole country and of the reported series of nationwide transport strikes, scheduled in-person classes in all PUP campuses shall shift to online mode of delivery (synchronous or asynchronous) starting April 15 until April 30, 2024,” the university said.

“Laboratory classes, as well as other scheduled curricular/extracurricular activities, however, may proceed subject to consultation with the students,” it added.

READ: Groups to hold transport strikes over non-extension of franchise merging

Last April 11, transport groups announced their plan to conduct a series of transport strikes beginning on Monday in defiance of the government’s pronouncement that the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) franchise consolidation will no longer be extended.

On the other hand, due to continuous hot weather, some local government units within the National Capital Region implemented heat mitigation measures in schools, such as the suspension of afternoon classes or shortening the class periods to ease the students’ ordeal due to the sweltering heat.

Moreover, the Department of Education authorized school authorities to suspend classes when temperatures rise above normal levels.