THE DEPARTMENT of Education on Thursday assured the public that various interventions are in place to sustain learning amid class disruptions caused by current weather disturbances.

In a Viber message, DepEd highlighted ongoing measures that prioritize both safety and continued education for learners, considering the effects of Typhoon Emong (international name Co-May), Tropical Storm Dante (international name Francisco) and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

These include an omnibus flexible learning policy that institutionalizes flexible learning options across different contexts and sets up one-stop shops for flexible learning delivery.

All schools are mandated to implement Learning and Service Continuity Plans (LSCP), which include alternative delivery modes (ADM) such as online classes, self-learning modules, and activity sheets; storage protocols for learning devices; and teacher training for quick adaptation during disruptions.

For ADMs, the agency said that it is continuously procuring and distributing tablets to learners in disaster-hit areas.

In terms of class suspension guidelines, the DepEd also assured collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local leagues to urge compliance from local government units (LGUs).

Under updated policies effective December 2024, school heads may declare localized suspensions in the absence of LGU declarations during emergencies like heavy rain or flooding.

The DepEd, meanwhile, is set to deploy learning continuity packages or mobile durable modular units as a replacement for temporary learning spaces in high-risk areas in August, as well as upgrades in the E-CAIR LIGTAS artificial intelligence (AI) tool in the third quarter.

This AI tool serves as a predictive platform for geohazards to guide schools in contingency measures.

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, the DepEd reported the suspension of in-person classes in 24,648 public schools across 16 regions in the country.

Around 270 schools are now being used as evacuation centers. (PNA)