The Department of Education has called
on the public especially parents to use as guide the existing policies on
suspension on classes during bad weather condition to keep children out of
harm.
Based on to DepEd Order No. 28, series
of 2005, classes in all public and private elementary and secondary schools are
automatically suspended or cancelled without having to wait for announcement
under the following circumstances:
When Signal No. 1 is raised by the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA),
classes at the pre-school level shall be automatically suspended in all public
and private schools.
When Signal No. 2 is raised, classes at
the pre-school, elementary and secondary levels shall be automatically suspended
in all public and private schools.
In view of this, DepEd has requested
PAG-ASA to reiterate these guidelines when issuing regular weather bulletin so
that the public can be duly-informed and can be better prepared.
In the absence of storm signals,
localized suspension is allowed by DepEd. The decision may be made by the school
principal, division superintendent or local government executive.
Secretary Armin Luistro reiterated that
the parents, the local executives and the local DepEd officials are in the best
position to decide if they will send their children to school when storm signals
are announced by PAGASA in specific areas.
Existing policies allow local DepEd
officials and local government executives to suspend classes at their level to
avoid leaving children on the streets when heavy rains and strong winds hit
certain areas.
“The final decision to let the child go
to school or not is left with the parents. Local suspension and parental
decision are allowed since parents and officials on the ground have a better
idea about the situation in their areas,” explained Luistro.
DepEd has also furnished media outfits
with the guidelines which they can use to reiterate to the public during
inclement weather.
Source:
http://www.deped.gov.ph/updates/updateslinks.asp?id=1166
