DUE to extreme heat these days, some students and teachers in Mandaue City appealed to the Department of Education (DepEd) to bring back the old system when classes start in June and end in March or April, instead of the August-June schedule that has been implemented since 2012.
Classes in the Philippines start in August and end in June after the K to 12 program was implemented in 2012. The K to 12 was passed into law in 2013 (Republic Aact 10533), making mandatory the one year in kindergarten and two years in senior high school to enhance the quality of the educational system in the country.
Emelita Infante, Master Teacher II of Ibabao-Estancia Elementary School, said Tuesday, April 25, 2023, that the humid weather greatly affects the students' performance and learning in school.
She shared how some of her co-teachers turn off their classroom lights and open windows just to lessen the effect of the heat.
She said some teachers often bring extra uniforms with them to remain presentable and asked their students to bring portable fans, face towels, and baby powders to freshen up.
"Sige naman sila og pamaypay, nya madestruct jud sila kay alimuot. Magbutang sila og towel, nya usahay ang towel malimtan, ma uga, adto musud ang bronchitis," said Infante, citing many of her students are now getting sick with bronchitis.
Bronchitis is an infection of the main airways of the lungs (bronchi), causing the patient to become irritated and inflamed. The main symptom is cough, which may bring up phlegm.
Nicole Napiere, 13, a Grade 8 student of Mandaue Comprehensive National High School, is hopeful DepEd would consider bringing back their summer vacation from April to May.
She said many of her fellow students complain of difficulty in breathing because of the hot weather.
Grade 10 student Andre Jio Capa, of Mandaue Comprehensive National High School, said their Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) agreed to purchase at least three or more electric fans to help students combat the heat.
Capa admitted that the heat really affects their concentration in class.
SunStar Cebu tried to reach out to DepEd Division of Mandaue City for comment but to no avail.
Last week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised the probability of increasing the El Niño (dry season) occurrence from 55 percent to 80 percent in June, July, August and September.
The highest heat index recorded in the country was on Tuesday, April 25, in Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte, at 43 degrees Celsius.
During the launching of the Mid-Year Cultural Summit on April 20, Dr. Dominga Obenza, head of the Mandaue City Health Office (MCHO), reminded the public to drink eight to 10 glasses of water to avoid dehydration.
Meanwhile, Arnel Abella, head of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Mandaue, said that fire incidents are common during the dry season due to overload of electrical appliances.
"Kay kasagaran man gud ang paggamit sa mga appliances dili na kapahuway tungod sa kainit sa panahon like electric fan, aircon and others (Because people tend to use electric fans, air conditioners and others non-stop due to the extreme heat)," he added.
Abella advised the public to regularly check their electrical wirings at home and make sure to unplug all the outlets when leaving the house. (HIC)