Albay, Ligao, Tabaco cancel sem break to hold make-up classes after Mayon unrest

STUDENTS of Camalig North Central School in Camalig town, Albay province, attend classes outdoors while their classrooms serve as temporary homes for families evacuated from danger zones around Mayon Volcano. MARK ALVIC ESPLANA/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Three school divisions in the Bicol region have declared no semestral breaks in elementary and secondary schools to make up for the disruption of classes caused by Mayon Volcano’s state of unrest.

To comply with the Department of Education’s 180-school day requirement, the school division superintendents in Albay province as well as Ligao and Tabaco Cities have cancelled the scheduled semestral break of students from October 20 to 24.

Albay schools division superintendent Bebiano Sentillas said in a memorandum that while elementary and high school students not affected by the volcano’s activity could have their semestral break, classes would continue for students in schools used as evacuation centers as well as those in makeshift classrooms at evacuation sites.

This is, according to the memorandum, intended to compensate for the number of days classes have been suspended.

No semestral break order will take effect in 54 primary and secondary schools in the towns of Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, Daraga, Camalig, and Guinobatan, according to Sentillas. Of the 54 schools, 28 are being used as evacuation centers.

Tabaco City division of schools superintendent Ma. Luisa Dela Rosa, in her memorandum said that schools that have been holding classes in shifts will not have a semestral break. These are: the Bantayan Elementary School; Buhian Elementary School; Bonot Elementary School; Comon Elementary School; Magapo Elementary School; Mayon Elementary School; Nagsipit Elementary School; San Antonio Elementary School; San Isidro Elementary School; Oson Elementary School; Quinastillojan Elementary School; Tabaco Northwest Central School; Comon High School; San Antonio National High School; and the Tabaco National High School.

Dela Rosa said that the 15 elementary and high schools held classes in shifts because of Mayon Volcano’s activity.

Meanwhile, Ligao city schools division superintendent Evangeline Palencia cancelled the semestral break for all schools in the city to make up for the class suspensions due to Typhoon “Glenda” (international name Rammasun) and Mayon Volcano’s state of unrest.

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