The frequency of class suspensions due to inclement weather has led the Department of Education to assess the number of missed school days due to calamities in order to implement the necessary interventions, which includes the possibility of makeup classes.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara recently admitted in an interview with reporters that the DepEd was alarmed by the frequent class suspensions due to typhoons and intimated at the need for a thorough assessment of the total number of missed school days as compared to the available dates for possible make up classes, before it becomes too late for students.
“We are concerned that it may come to a point that because of so many missed classes, they (students) can no longer recover. So, that’s our concern right now,” he said.
Just this week alone, a total of 37,375 schools nationwide have suspended classes since Monday, with more than 19 million students affected because of severe tropical storm Kristine.
“As typhoons are getting more frequent, what is important is to ensure that the class suspensions will not result in learning loss. Even if they are at home, students must not be idle, as much as possible there must be some form of learning,” Angara said.
The DepEd is now studying various ways on how to possibly recover the lost class days, such as through blended learning and Saturday classes.
Blended learning is the combination of in person, online, and modular modes of learning, which the DepEd is studying for implementation in Senior High School students. Saturday make-up classes will be up to the discretion of school principals and teachers.
The ease at which local officials have been suspending classes may have the best interests and safety of the public in mind, but its increasing frequency is also bound to have long term consequences on the students, especially if mitigation measures are not undertaken to make up for missed school days and lessons.
As the DepEd endeavors to make up for all those school days lost to bad weather, either through make up classes or blended learning, or any other methods that will allow Filipino students to stay competitive, so should our local government officials also keep that concern in mind, and strive to build towns and cities that are not as vulnerable to poor weather as they are right now.*
