Friday, June 01, 2007 Parents decide if they send out their kids
THE rainy season’s arrival just as everyone is preparing for classes to open has the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterating its policy on the suspension of classes.
DepEd Order 28, issued in 2005, states that in the absence of storm warnings from the weather bureau, suspension of classes can be done locally— by the school principal or local officials concerned.
Education officials, however, stressed that while their primary concern is the safety of students and teachers, the parents hold the ultimate responsibility for deciding whether their children should go to school.
The order states that classes will be automatically suspended in all public and private schools at the pre-school level when typhoon signal number one is raised by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (Pag-asa).
In case of typhoon signal number two, suspension of classes is automatic in all public and private schools at the pre-school, elementary and high school levels.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, in a written statement, said any announcement on suspension must be relayed not later that 4:30 a.m. (or 11 a.m. for suspension of classes in the afternoon) so that parents and students will not be alarmed.
No jurisdiction
DepEd also stressed that it has no jurisdiction over colleges and universities because these are under the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).
“Classes at the tertiary level will be suspended during typhoon signal number three. For other calamities, we leave it to the administration or institution to decide the suspension of classes,” Ched 7 Director Enrique Grecia said in a phone interview.
He added that all colleges and universities, through their offices of student affairs, are required to educate and prepare their students for the onset of bad weather.
DepEd Education Supervisor Josefina Samson advised parents to listen for important announcements in DepEd’s radio program called “DepEd in Action” over Radyo ng Bayan every Thursday starting 10 a.m.
Makeup classes are required in exchange for suspended classes, she added. (NRC)
