Alternative Uniforms Allow DepEd Teaching and Non-Teaching Personnel to Get Relief from Heat

The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines has announced that due to the ongoing high temperatures across the country, public school teachers and other staff are now allowed to wear more relaxed uniforms. In a recent advisory, DepEd stated that both teaching and non-teaching personnel could opt for an alternative uniform because of the heat.

Under this new policy, teachers can wear collared polo shirts that have been previously used in various DepEd activities like Brigada Eskwela, Palarong Pambansa, Oplan Balik Eskwela, or any Regional, Division, and School Conferences. Additionally, white polo shirts that feature the DepEd and Matatag logos are also acceptable.

To maintain a professional appearance, these polo shirts should be worn with matte black pants, which can be made of any fabric, including slacks, jeans, or cargo pants. However, the advisory specifies that leggings, tights, and jogging pants are not suitable and should not be worn.

The move to allow more casual attire comes as several regions in the Philippines continue to experience very high heat indexes, which measure how hot it feels considering both temperature and humidity. These conditions, with heat indexes reaching between 42ºC and 51ºC, can lead to serious health issues like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke if precautions are not taken.

Due to these extreme temperatures, some local and provincial governments have already taken steps to suspend on-site classes to protect students and staff from the heat.

This adjustment in dress code is an effort by DepEd to ensure the comfort and well-being of its staff during the heatwave, allowing them to continue their important work in education without compromising on health and safety.