DepEd to LGUs: Be specific with class suspensions, protect learning time

Adrian Maravillas

The Department of Education (DepEd) is urging  the local government units (LGUs) to implement targeted, localized  class suspensions to prevent further disruptions to student learning.

According to DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, 34,775 schools, or 72.49 percent of all public schools in the nation, have already experienced class suspensions since the start of classes.

With an average of four days nationwide, some school divisions have recorded almost 30 days of suspensions as of Sept. 10.

“The national average does not tell the whole story. Conditions can be very different even within the same region or local government,” Angara said.

The department proposed the Executive Order on the Suspension and Resumption of Classes and Work in Educational Institutions and Other Related Matters on Sept. 17, aiming to establish faster, data-driven criteria for suspension and resumption decisions.

Proposed suspension framework

Under the proposed measure Executive Order, the secretary revealed the class suspension and resumption decisions can be automatic, localized, or granular, depending on the nature and scope of the hazard.

“Our request is simple: be specific when you suspend. If the risk is limited to certain areas, identifying those areas can help schools in unaffected areas continue learning,” Angara  expressed.

For localized suspensions, DepEd encourages LGUs to identify first the most affected places and decide according to their risks.

Angara explained that some schools may have different situations from others.

Meanwhile, the proposed Executive Order also introduces granular suspension and resumption when the situation in a specific area differs from a wider, blanket suspension.

DepEd emphasized that safety remains non-negotiable in any granular resumption.

‘Safety first’

Angara said the framework recognizes class suspension and resumption as a shared responsibility between LGUs and education authorities, highlighting that both safety and learning time is important.

“Safety first, but when it is safe, we should also protect learning time. The objective is to suspend when and where the risk warrants it, resume when conditions are safe, and keep learning going wherever possible,” he added.

According to DepEd, coordination with the concerned LGUs is required to prevent conflicting announcements and confusion among students.

The proposed policy was approved by the Social Development Committee Cabinet Cluster on Sept. 3.