Class suspensions: Grades of Math, Science learners drop

Frequent class suspensions have led to a 12 to 14-percent decline in Math and Science grades among Grade 4 students, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) revealed yesterday.

- By BELLA CARIASO

Aside from the decline, the commission said the suspensions resulted in learning losses equivalent to half to a full school year, with 30 percent of school days in 2023-2024 lost.

“The school closures have a big effect on the grades of a student. Majority of these (class suspensions) were due to typhoons, earthquakes and other calamities,” EDCOM 2 noted, adding that 32 days were due to calamities and 12 due to non-teaching tasks.

Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) warned that prolonged suspension of face-to-face classes could disrupt students’ learning and development, following Gov. Sol Aragones’ order to suspend in-person classes in all levels in Laguna, citing the need for heightened disaster preparedness.

Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) legal counsel Joseph Noel Estrada questioned this decision, saying: “Laguna governor should publicize what the provincial government will do during the two-week suspension of classes as part of disaster preparedness and what it seeks to accomplish after.”

To address the learning crisis, DepEd, for its part, has strengthened its partnership with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to ensure class suspension decisions are guided by scientific data, localized risk assessments and safety standards.