Reversing calendars over sweltering classrooms

I support proposals to reinstate the traditional academic calendar for elementary and high school students, which featured class openings in June and a two-month summer break during April and May.

My support stems from the fact that most elementary and high school classrooms, whether private or public, are ill-equipped to handle the sweltering summer temperatures. These classrooms typically lack air conditioning and rely on electric fans for cooling. However, due to climate change and worsening El Niño weather conditions, fans are no longer enough; they simply circulate the hot, dry air in the atmosphere.

Earlier this month, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced that they are considering the proposal and will form a group to study the potential return to the previous academic calendar, wherein school breaks occurred from April to May. DepEd spokesman Michael Poa acknowledged that the department is considering suggestions to revert to the old calendar in order to avoid conducting classes during the summer heat.

The higher education academic calendar was actually the first to be changed to the August-May schedule some years ago. The goal was to align with international school schedules, aiming to enhance collaborative research and ultimately improve the global competitiveness of our universities. At that time, I was open to the change because of the said goal.

Elementary and high schools then adjusted their calendars to align with higher education institutions. However, the situation is quite different compared to air-conditioned college campuses, as most elementary and high school classrooms lack air conditioning. Two decades ago, using electric fans to cool classrooms was adequate, but with the intensifying heat due to climate change, the summer temperatures have become unbearable. Our classrooms were not designed to handle these extreme conditions, especially during the summer months.

While the academic calendar is still under review, I support the Cebu City Council's call for DepEd to temporarily shift to online classes and avoid outdoor activities due to the current hot weather. The City Council noted that weather bureau PAGASA has warned that the heat index during the dry season may reach as high as 52 degrees Celsius.

DepEd's Poa previously stated that schools have the option to implement blended learning if classroom conditions become unsuitable. A recent survey by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), as reported by The FREEMAN, revealed that students struggle to concentrate in class and have lower attendance due to the "intolerable" heat in classrooms. Among the surveyed teachers, about 67% reported experiencing "intolerable heat" in their classrooms, which most commonly led to students having trouble focusing on lessons. As a part-time teacher myself, I find it hard to imagine teaching in such intolerable conditions.

A study by DOST-PAGASA, featured in the 2017 edition of the Philippine Journal of Science, titled "Climatic Insights on Academic Calendar Shift in the Philippines" (Villafuerte, Juanillo, and Hilario), found that an August to May academic calendar offers benefits such as fewer rainy school days, less extreme rainfall events, and a reduced number of potential tropical cyclone-related class cancellations. However, this calendar, which is now being followed, also coincides with extremely hot days. Furthermore, the study observed that graduation day seems to be more favorably situated in the previous academic calendar compared to the new one.

Choosing between today's extreme weather conditions can feel like being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Nonetheless, I would personally prefer a rainy class season over one where students and teachers have to endure what feels like hell inside the classroom.