The Schools Division Office (SDO) of Quezon City has adjusted its learning modality starting Wednesday due to the persistently high heat index affecting public school students, according to Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Citing SDO Quezon City’s Division Memorandum 511 s, 2024 issued by Schools Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla, Belmonte said the adjustment was due to the forecast that a heat index of 40 degrees Celsius or above will be experienced in the coming days.
The mayor said classes will shift to limited face-to-face classes once the forecast temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius or higher.
“This will give public school students ample time to complete their essential year-end activities like performance tasks and final examinations, especially now that classes are winding down,” she said.
The school administrators and principals will devise a schedule for the students. The scheduling will depend on the capacity of the classrooms and schools.
However, Belmonte reiterated that classes will shift to full face-to-face classes if the temperature is 39 degrees or lower.
“In case there’s a declaration of suspension by the Department of Education or the national government, we will implement asynchronous/synchronous mode,” she said.
In her order, Sedilla stressed that the parents should make the final decision on whether to allow their kids to go to school or stay at home.
“If a child has a health condition or if the parents think that sending the kid to school poses health risks, the school should be informed,” Sedilla said.
“The school will then decide on the modality that best suits the learner, as the child should be given utmost consideration and necessary assistance,” she emphasized.
The new schedule will be effective on May 8, 2024, to give school heads the opportunity to meet their stakeholders and disseminate the adjustment in the modality.
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