NO IN-PERSON CLASSES. Iloilo City suspends in-person classes from preschool to Senior High School on April 1-2, 2024, due to extreme heat. Mayor Jerry Treñas, in a press conference Monday (April 1, 2024), said there is a possibility that the suspension of face-to-face classes will be extended once the heat index reaches over 40 degrees Celsius since most schools in Iloilo City, except for private schools, have no air conditioning units. (PNA photo by PGLena)
ILOILO CITY – Hundreds of public schools in Western Visayas shifted to alternative mode of learning delivery on Monday following the suspension of face-to-face (F2F) classes due to extreme heat, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) in the region.
As of 3 p.m., a total of 840 schools in the region have suspended in-person classes and shifted to alternative mode of learning, based on DepEd record.
DepEd regional information Hernani Escullar said the suspension of F2F classes covered the schools division offices (SDOs) in Iloilo City, Roxas City, Kabankalan City, Dumangas in Iloilo province, Silay City, Himamaylan City, Guimaras, Bacolod City and seven municipalities in Negros Occidental.
“Most of these were based on the announcement of local chief executives, except for Guimaras where it was the school heads who declared. For those declared by the local government unit, we will wait for when they will lift their order,” he said in an interview.
He said during the suspension of F2F classes, they ensure that learners meet the target learning competencies.
“We have to make sure that we abide by Republic Act 11480 that there should be not less than 200 but not more than 220 school days in a school year,” he said.
He added there should be a monitoring and evaluation to ensure the learning competency or learners continue their studies in the comfort of their homes.
Since providing education is a shared responsibility between the DepEd and parents, the latter has to guide their children at home to ensure learning continuity, he said.
In a press conference, Mayor Jerry Treñas said there is a possibility that the April 1-2 suspension of F2F classes will be extended since most schools in Iloilo City, except for private schools, have no air conditioning units once the heat index reaches over 40 degrees Celsius.
Based on the five-day highest heat index forecasted by the state weather bureau on March 31, four areas in Western Visayas will experience a 41 degrees Celsius heat index on April 1, including Iloilo City, Roxas City, Dumangas in Iloilo province, and La Carlota in Negros Occidental, and 40 degrees Celsius in Mambusao town in Capiz.
On April 2, except for Mambusao, which is forecasted to experience a 41 degrees Celsius heat index, the four others will have 42 degrees Celsius. (PNA)
