THE NATIONAL Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) called on the government to suspend classes, exams, and deadlines at all levels, both face-to-face and online, in areas heavily impacted by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, especially those declared under a state of calamity.

The group emphasized that students in affected areas are not in a position to focus on academics when survival is their primary concern.

“They are preoccupied with safeguarding their belongings, evacuating to safer areas, and securing food, medicine, and other necessities for their families. Forcing academic activities—whether on-site or online—only adds unnecessary pressure during an already distressing time,” the NUSP said in a statement.

They cited the tragic loss of two students at Central Mindanao University, highlighting it as a grave reminder of the dangers associated with the lack of policies, like timely class suspension, during calamities.

“This incident could have been prevented had the university prioritized student safety. We cannot allow negligence to claim more lives. No academic requirement or deadline is worth the life of any student. We demand accountability from the administration, at minimum a public apology, and a commitment to more concrete pro-student policies in times of calamity to avoid perfectly preventable tragedies,” the group said.

Additionally, they argued that switching to online classes during calamities is not a viable solution.

“Students are already overwhelmed by the challenges of power outages, limited internet access, and mental stress. Expecting them to meet academic demands under such conditions undermines both their well-being and the quality of education,” they continued.

“We urge the national government to do the bare minimum and proactively ensure the safety of students by issuing an order through CHED and DepEd mandating, not JUST the suspension of classes, but ALSO all academic deadlines and exams in areas adversely affected by the storm,” the group emphasized.