Valenzuela City modifies class schedules due to intense heat

MANILA, Philippines — Valenzuela City on Thursday announced a modified schedule for students in public and private schools from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian said the modified schedule is aimed at protecting students from the intense heat.

“Para po sa ating private and public schools, simula po Kinder hanggang Grade 12, magiging two days na lang po ang face-to-face classes natin sa umaga, mula 6:00 am hanggang 10:00 am,” Gatchalian said in a video message posted in the city’s official Facebook page.

(For our private and public schools from kindergarten to Grade 12, face-to-face classes will only be for two days, and from 6:00 am to 10:00 am.)

On the other hand, the other three school days will follow an asynchronous format.

Students in public schools will be divided into two groups.

The first group will have face-to-face classes on Monday and Tuesday and asynchronous sessions from Wednesday to Friday, while the second group will have face-to-face classes on Wednesday and Thursday and asynchronous sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

Meanwhile, students in private schools will also have face-to-face classes on Monday and Tuesday, and their asynchronous sessions from Wednesday to Friday.

Gatchalian said that the suspension of classes in the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV), Valenzuela City Technological College (Valtech), and other private universities and colleges will be at the discretion of school administrators.

“Para naman po sa ating estudyante na nag-aaral sa PLE, at sa ValTech, at sa private universities natin at colleges, minarapat ko po na iiwan ang desisyon sa inyong school administrators at makibalita na lang po tayo sa ating unibersidad o kolehiyo,” Gatchalian added.

(For students of PLE, Valtech, and other private universities and colleges, I found it appropriate to leave the decision to the school administrators and to update yourselves with your respective university or college.)

Gatchalian likewise said that classes in the city will automatically shift to asynchronous mode once the heat index reaches 42 degrees Celsius.