Bad weather class suspension policy to be reviewed

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has ordered a review of the Department of Education (DepEd)'s policy on class suspension during typhoons, saying there must be a balance between ensuring the safety of students and teachers and preventing further increases in the number of school days lost.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

In an interview with Radyo Singko 92.3 News FM yesterday, Education Undersecretary for governance and field operations Revsee Escobedo said Angara wanted the review to be done "immediately" following several days of class suspensions due to six tropical cyclones that hit the country late October into November.

"His instruction was that by next week, we should report our draft amendments to DO (DepEd Order) 37 (s. 2022)," Escobedo said, referring to the current policy of DepEd on class suspensions.

Under DO 37, local chief executives have the discretion to suspend classes in times of typhoons, heavy rainfall and flooding and schools would have to abide by the local government's class suspension order.

The DepEd order states that in-person classes, online classes and work from Kindergarten to Grade 12 as well as in the Alternative Learning System are automatically canceled if the schools are situated in local government units (LGUs) under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) 1,2,3,4 or 5 which is issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).