THE Department of Education said that close to 7,000 public and private schools nationwide have suspended in-person classes and are now implementing alternative delivery modes of learning due to the extreme heat.

Based on the latest data, a total of 6,695 schools out of the 47, 678 schools in the country are implementing alternative delivery modes.

Of this number, 1,731 are in Central Luzon, 1, 091 in Western Visayas, 680 in the Ilocos region, 470 in Central Visayas, 450 in the Bicol region, 426 in Mimaropa, 415 in the National Capital Region, 395 in Calabarzon, 335 in SOCCSKSARGEN, 229 in the Cordillera Administrative Region, 164 in Zamboanga Peninsula, 117 in Eastern Visayas, 104 in Cagayan Valley, and 84 in the Davao region.

Meanwhile, only three schools have suspended in-person learning in Northern Mindanao and one in Caraga.

The DepEd said the number of schools implementing ADM has decreased compared to the previous data of 7,080.

The agency has given the school heads the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery modes in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel.