DepEd seeks changes to class suspension rules to allow safe schools to reopen
The Philippine Department of Education is proposing a shift from blanket class suspensions to a more granular approach during emergencies. This policy would allow individual schools to resume face-to-face classes if they are certified safe, even if the surrounding municipality remains under a suspension order.
Why it matters
This change aims to mitigate the significant learning loss experienced by students due to frequent weather-related disruptions in the Philippines.
Michael Varcas / The Philippine STAR The Department of Education on Tuesday called for revised emergency protocols that would give schools the authority to resume face-to-face classes depending on their specific safety conditions, even if class suspensions remain in place across wider areas.
The push for the new policy follows prolonged disruptions caused by the southwest monsoon , or habagat, which has forced classes to be called off in multiple areas. The repeated cancellations have affected the continuity of lessons and heightened concerns about students falling further behind in their studies.
Under the proposed executive order, schools could resume face-to-face classes once they are deemed safe, even while a broader city- or municipality-wide suspension remains in place, subject to LGU approval and safety documentation.
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