DepEd: 26 school days lost to recent cyclones, calamities

Up to 26 learning days were lost due to class suspensions in several schools nationwide caused by recent typhoons and other natural calamities, according to latest data from the Department of Education.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

Based on the DepEd's consolidated data released yesterday, almost all regions in the country have recorded class suspensions or "school days lost" from August to October.

Among the natural calamities that prompted schools to suspend their classes were bad weather due to the southwest monsoon and Taal Volcano smog in August; enhanced southwest monsoon, tropical cyclones Ferdie and Gener, Tropical Depression Enteng, Tropical Storm Helen as well as the transport strike in September; and Tropical Depression Julian, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Typhoon Leon in October.

The regional breakdown showed that schools in Calabarzon were the most affected by the recent calamities with 26 school days lost, followed by schools in Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon both with 24 and Cordillera Administrative Region with 23.

Schools in the Ilocos Region had a total of 22 lost school days while schools in Metro Manila had 17.

Other regions that suffered from lost school days are Bicol Region (16), Mimaropa (15), Western Visayas (14), Central Visayas (11), Zamboanga Peninsula (10), Eastern Visayas (5), Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Davao Region with three lost school days each and Soccsksargen with two.