EDCOM 2 flags lost school days amid class suspensions

​Students have lost as many as 50 days of instruction over the past two school years, prompting the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) to push for an evaluation of asynchronous learning models and more targeted class suspensions.

​EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee disclosed that the commission’s study found 30 to 50 days of the 180-day school year were lost to class suspensions, making it difficult for students to complete lessons within each quarter.

​“Nakita natin sa nakaraang dalawang taon, minsan 30, 40, 50 days ang nawawala sa isang school year. Paano mo matutunan ’yung lahat ng leksyon sa isang buong quarter? Kahit habulin natin ’yun, hindi natin kayang habulin ’yun ng bigla-bigla,” Yee said.

​Rather than relying solely on catch-up lessons, EDCOM 2 recommended that the Department of Education (DepEd) determine which asynchronous approaches effectively preserve instruction when students cannot attend classes physically.

​“Dapat may monitoring and evaluation ang DepEd [kung] anong mga asynchronous models ang gumagana o hindi, para ‘yung mga hindi, itigil ‘yun at ‘yung mga gumagana, ‘yun ‘yung palawakin,” Yee stated.

​The proposal follows weeks of heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones, which led schools in several areas to suspend face-to-face classes or shift to alternative learning arrangements.

​EDCOM 2 emphasized that the effects of missed instruction should also be measured after students return to class, allowing teachers to identify lessons that need further discussion.

​“Pagbalik dapat ng mga estudyante sa paaralan, dapat may assessment… alin ’yung mga leksyon na natutunan, alin ’yung hindi para ’yung mga hindi, ihahabol pa rin ng mga teachers,” Yee said.

​He insisted that face-to-face instruction remains essential, especially for kindergarten and basic education, when students learn the fundamentals of reading and writing.

​To improve the implementation of class suspensions, particularly in regions with varying degrees of weather-related risk, Yee also called for more extensive consultations between government agencies and other stakeholders.

​“While the safety of the children is extremely important and is paramount, we need to save learning days kung kaya natin (if we can),” he emphasized.

​He suggested that authorities consider granular suspensions in communities directly affected by hazards instead of applying blanket suspensions across entire provinces.

​“Kung puwedeng granular ’yung suspension para kung may mga probinsiya kung saan hindi lahat ng munisipyo naapektuhan ng baha at ulan, baka puwedeng tumuloy sila sa pag-aaral. Hindi ’yung blanket lagi ’yung suspension natin,” he added.

​Meanwhile, DepEd is working on a standardized system that would use government-established hazard thresholds to automatically halt and restart onsite work and in-person classes during emergencies.

​Before being presented to Malacañang via a draft executive order, the proposed system is undergoing nationwide consultations with local government entities, education officials, and other stakeholders.