Heatwave Means No Classes

by Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

One of my fondest childhood memories in the Philippines was having summer vacations in the Bicol province where my parents are originally from before moving to Baguio City.

To beat the heat, we would go to the beach and have a huge salo-salu meal with my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

I can still vividly remember the laughter and the fun we all shared as a family, not to mention the sumptuous fresh seafood we ate using our hands.

We would make the most of May before going back to school in June.

Oh, I miss those days! But summer for many Filipino students is different now. Instead of enjoying a supposed vacation season, they are learning in classrooms.

Classes in the Philippines usually begin on the first Monday of June and end in March, as mandated by Republic Act 7797.

But in 2020, this has been amended due to the impact of the pandemic and the months of June and July coinciding with the typhoon season, resulting in class disruptions.

Since then, classes commence in August and end in May. This means that during the hottest times of the year, students are in school.

This year, the Philippines has recorded its highest temperatures reaching up to 43°C, with some areas recording temperatures of up to 48°C.

Because of this, local authorities and educators canceled classes throughout the archipelago because of reports of fainting, dizziness, and high blood pressure among students and teachers.

With many classrooms crowded and without air conditioning, especially in public schools, long exposure to extreme heat can have dramatic consequences for children’s health and well-being.

Not only can high temperatures cause heat cramps and heat stroke, but these make concentration and learning extremely difficult for children.While reverting to the old academic calendar is one solution to the heat problems, I believe there are other things to consider such as the condition of the classrooms.

Classroom shortage in many schools has been a perennial problem. It has been an issue ever since I was young.

With limited classrooms, they pack up to 70 students in a room that is just meant for 40. Congestion must be addressed.

Aside from this, many rooms in public schools don’t have air-conditioning and proper ventilation. Not only is this unconducive for learning, but it’s also not healthy for students who stay in school for several hours.

I believe that the government should prioritize looking into solving this concern. And instead of being physically present in schools, learning from home can also be considered. Climate change is real. Weather patterns have become crazier and weirder.

It seems like every year, it will become hotter in summer, even wetter during the rainy season, and colder during the wintertime.

We just have to brace ourselves and cope with the changes. Given the intense heat from March to May and the nonstop rains from June to July, I hope that the Philippine government will consider giving its youth better solutions to such a dilemma rather than experimenting with schedules at the expense of the students.

Children require stability in education. They are the future leaders of the nation. Therefore, they deserve the best from their leaders.