A TEACHERS’ group prodded the Department of Education to consider several measures to alleviate the extreme heat affecting teachers and learners as classes resumed Monday after the Holy Week break.

“For the remaining months of the school year, kailangan talaga nating magtiis, after all may commitment naman na ang DepEd sa gradual revert to old school calendar,” Teachers’ Dignity Coalition Chairperson Benjo Basas said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, ‘yang remaining months na ‘yan, Abril at Mayo ang pinakamainit kaya kailangan pa rin nating mag-adjust para naman hindi masyadong mahirapan ang mga bata at mga guro natin gaya nung nakaraang taon,” Basas added.

Basas cited instances of students falling ill due to extreme heat last year, leading to many teacher absences due to health concerns. The group proposed several adjustments to mitigate the impact of heat during school days.

“Puwede namang i-shorten ang klase or magkaroon ng shifting para iwasan ang tirik ng araw, o payagang magsuot ng komportableng pananamit ang mga guro at bata. Kapag hindi talaga kinaya at malalagay sa panganib ang kalusugan, that’s the time that we employ distance learning modalities,” Basas explained.

The group also reiterated the suspension of Catch-Up Fridays to prioritize learners’ academic needs, especially with potential reductions in class hours and the previously approved reduction of school days.

“Tapos ipatigil muna ang Catch-Up Fridays para hindi na lalo pang makabawas sa limited class days,” Basas argued.

Basas suggested that DepEd should expedite the transition to the old school calendar by ending the 2024-2025 school year by mid-April 2025 to facilitate a faster transition.

“Sana i-consider din ng DepEd na i-shorten ang next school year (SY 2024-2025) at tapusin ito ng mid-April para mas mabilis ang transition. ‘Yung Abril at Mayo kasi ang iniiwasan natin eh. Sa plano ng DepEd baka umabot pa ng dalawa o tatlong taon na may klase tayo ng Abril o Mayo,” Basas said.

DepEd previously issued DepEd Order No. 3, s. 2024 on February 19, adjusting the end of the current school year from June 15 to May 31, 2024. The same order also set the opening and closing dates for School Year 2024-2025 as July 29, 2024, and May 16, 2025, respectively.