Following widespread flooding caused by the “Carina”-enhanced southwest monsoon, a group of teachers has called on President Marcos and newly appointed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara to postpone the opening of the School Year (SY) 2024-2025. The school year is scheduled to start next week.
On Thursday, July 25, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) issued a statement strongly recommending a postponement of at least one week in the affected areas, and ideally nationwide, to help communities recover. TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas expressed confidence that President Marcos and Secretary Angara would understand the need for this delay, especially since many local government units (LGUs) have already declared a state of calamity.
“Let us prioritize allowing our kababayans, teachers, parents, and students to address their domestic challenges stemming from the impact of typhoons and floods,” Basas stated. He added that the delay would also provide DepEd with the opportunity to thoroughly prepare for the school opening.
The southwest monsoon, intensified by Tropical Storm Carina, has resulted in severe flooding in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and other areas. “Many schools, if not submerged, are currently serving as evacuation centers,” Basas noted. “Our communities, families, parents, children, and even individual teachers are grappling with their respective concerns in light of this calamity,” he added.
TDC emphasized that affected communities need more time to prepare, from cleaning homes to addressing family needs and ensuring adequate school supplies. Schools also require time to prepare for the new school year.
The conduct of Brigada Eskwela, or the National Schools Maintenance Week, scheduled from July 22 to 27, was disrupted by the inclement weather. This weeklong nationwide school maintenance program engages all education stakeholders to contribute their time, efforts, and resources to ensure that public schools are ready for the school opening.
Additionally, TDC highlighted the lack of materials necessary for implementing the MATATAG Curriculum, which is a concern not only in the three affected regions but across the entire DepEd system.
With government offices resuming only on July 26, TDC warned that there is insufficient time for schools to adequately prepare for the opening of classes on July 29. The coalition’s call to delay the school opening is grounded in the immediate need for affected communities to recover from the calamity and for schools to ensure that all preparations are in place for a smooth and safe start to the new school year.