Philippine schools suspend in-person classes due to heat

Conditions set to get worse with summer peak to come, says weather forecaster

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Thousands of schools in the Philippines suspended in-person classes on April 5, the country's education department said, as parts of the tropical country endured dangerously high temperatures.

The months of March, April and May are typically the hottest and driest in the archipelago nation, and conditions have been exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Many schools have no air-conditioning, leaving students to swelter in crowded, poorly ventilated classrooms.

"Even my smartest student is not in the mood to answer questions because it's very hot," said Ms Mayette Paulino, who teaches a grade two class of around 27 children near Manila.

She said students "feel tired and seem sleepy" as the heat intensified in the afternoon.