LOCAL teachers’ group Alliance of Concerned Teachers - Davao Region (ACT-Davao) call for alternative learning setup and classroom interventions for public schools due to the hot weather this April and May.
ACT-Davao Division President Reynaldo Pardillo told SunStar Davao on March 31 that the high temperature is becoming burdensome for teachers and students, especially in classrooms with broken electric fans and no air conditioning.
Pardillo said the intense heat is causing headaches, dizziness, nosebleeding, and other health issues. He said that teachers also reported that students are unable to focus.
“There is a need for a modified or flexible schedule... These are the clamor ng mga nasa baba (teachers and staff)... Kay murag harsh na kaayo ang panahon karon (We feel that the weather nowadays is too hot),” Pardillo told SunStar Davao in an interview.
Pardillo said ACT-Davao, and other ACT divisions, proposed to the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement the alternative learning setup and provide classrooms with proper ventilation, electric fans, or air conditioners.
The goal for the alternative learning setup is so that teachers and students would not have to report to the schools every day and avoid being exposed to the harsh heat. The alternative schedules could also hold classes at the most comfortable hour of the day.
On April 3, Sunstar Davao asked some Dabawenyo parents if they agree to hold an alternative learning setup for their elementary and high school-level children to avoid the heat; most parents agreed and some students also echoed the same sentiments.
“Atong gina-consider ang weather nato, ang health sa mga bata, dapat naa gyod ta flexible nga muayon sa tanan estudyante og sa ilang estado (We should consider the weather, the health of the students. We should have a flexible option that is apt for every student). Dili tanan healthy na kaya makigaway sa weather (Not everyone is healthy enought to brave the hot weather),” said Von, a student from Sta. Ana National High School in Davao City.
However, one parent disagreed, arguing that the home is as hot as the public school classrooms.
“Kung ang balay sa bata aircon, okay siguro na siya pero mostly man gud sa public schools, ang pamilya sa mga bata naa sa low and middle class so posible ilang balay wala gihapon aircon so mas maayo nga naa na lang sila sa school (If the children have air conditioned homes, it’s okay but most public school students come form low-income families so most probably, they do not have air conditioners at home. So it’s better if they are at school),” parent Mariefe Tagama said.
Pardillo said they are trying to coordinate with DepEd-Davao and identify the best action plan for the matter. However, as of press time, DepEd-Davao has not yet issued a statement on the possibility of blended learning setup this dry season.
Pardillo said they hope the regional and national DepEd come up with a solution that would provide comfort for both the teachers and students as soon as possible.
“Hopefully, ma-implement early dili na gyod makaya ang init (it will be implemented early because we can’t bear the heat anymore). Kung subayon nato ang heat index, taas napud, dili na siya tolerable (The heat index is also high and it’s not tolerable). If possible after Holy Week, mubalik ta aning modified flexible schedule (If possible, we want to have the modified flexible schedule after Holy Week),” he said. (With reports from Mary Antonette Talisay and Rosell Madayon)