Proposal for Distance Learning this Monday and Tuesday to Extend the Long Weekend

The Department of Education (DepEd) is being urged to implement asynchronous classes or distance learning on Monday, April 29, and Tuesday, April 30. This suggestion comes as a way to create a continuous long weekend, since Wednesday, May 1st, is Labor Day, a national holiday.

The push for this brief shift to distance learning is underscored by serious health concerns. Reports indicate many students are experiencing dizziness and nosebleeds due to the extreme heat. These symptoms highlight the urgent need to provide a safer and more comfortable learning environment.

Distance learning on these specific days allows education to continue without exposing students to heat-related health risks. With the current temperatures soaring, classrooms, particularly those without proper cooling, pose a risk to both students and staff.

By switching to distance learning just before the holiday, teachers can plan lessons that students can complete at their pace from home. This not only helps manage the heat but also provides flexibility in educational delivery.

The community and parents strongly support this initiative, understanding the health risks associated with the current temperatures. Keeping children at home avoids the dangers of heat exposure during commutes and provides a more conducive learning environment.

In areas where face-to-face classes have already been suspended due to the heat, the community has seen positive impacts. This proactive measure has become a model for ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff.

Read: List of Schools with Classes Suspended Due to Extreme Heat

Given the severe health impacts such as dizziness and nosebleeds affecting students, DepEd is urged to implement distance learning on Monday, April 29, and Tuesday, April 30. This action is critical not only for comfort but also for the health and safety of the educational community. It is our hope that DepEd will hear the voices of teachers, parents, and students, who are directly experiencing the unbearable heat in the classrooms. By acknowledging these firsthand experiences, DepEd can demonstrate its commitment to prioritizing the well-being of its students and teachers, ensuring that education continues in a safe manner during extreme weather conditions. – Mark | Helpline PH