BUENAVISTA Mayor Atty. Dave Duallo has urged Vice-President and education secretary Sara Zimmerman Duterte to return back the present school schedule to old classes calendar.
The mayor’s request for the education secretary to revert to old school class schedule in all private and public schools was prompted due to the extreme heat as a result of the El Nino phenomenon.
As this developed, the Department of Education has issued an advisory: “In order to allow learners to complete pending assignments, projects and other requirements, all public schools nationwide shall implement asynchronous classes/distance learning on Monday, 8 April 2024.
It also said that “teaching and non-teaching personnel in all public schools shall not be required to report to their stations. Finally, private schools shall not be covered by this advisory but shall have the option to implement the same.”
The mayor said that old school class calendar during June to March of each year is more conducive than the present setup during the months of August and May.
The scorching heat affect very much the well-being, physically and academically, but also impacts the effectiveness of the teachers, the mayor said in his open letter the Duterte.
Returning the old mode of school schedule enhances the quality of education, the mayor pointed out.
Senator Imee Romualdez Marcos, who graced the opening of Governor’s Cup 2nd edition in Calape, told media interview that this (return to old sked) must be studied well. She said that it is hard to determine whether is rainy or dry because of climate change.
But for suspending classes, the LGUs know better when the need arises, she said.
The province of Bohol experienced heat index up to 39 degrees Celsius and over 40 degrees in some art of the country at the start of April this year.
Temperatures ranging from 33 to 41 degrees Celsius fall under the category of “extreme caution,” and from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius a “danger” zone, Pag-asa warns.
As this developed, Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado issued a directive following PAGASA reports of temperatures breaching 41 degrees Celsius since March 28 in different parts of the country.
He directed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) under the El Niño Task Force to monitor and assess the situation on the ground, make the necessary preparations and increase awareness.
In a health advisory, the provincial government reiterated the warnings issued by the Department of Health (DOH) against heat-related illnesses that come with extreme temperatures.
The DOH advised those in vulnerable places to drink plenty of water, wear comfortable clothing, limit outdoor activities between 10:00 am-4:00 pm, and use protection against sunburn to prevent heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. (Ric Obedencio)
