Amidst the scorching heat, several educational institutions across the Bicol region have rolled out anti-high heat measures to safeguard the well-being of their students and staff.
Bulan National High School in Sorsogon has recently released an directive adjusting its class schedules from the usual full-day sessions to a modified schedule, running from 6:30 am to 12:00 p.m., with no afternoon sessions for the remainder of the school year.
Said directive is meant to mitigate health risks associated with prolonged exposure to extreme heat, set to take effect on April 3.
In similar fashion, Camalig, Albay has also issued an order directing both public and private schools within its jurisdiction to implement early sessions from 7:00 am to 11:00 am.
Afternoon classes will transition to modular learning, allowing students to continue their education in the comfort of their homes.
Furthermore, said order exempts students from wearing school uniforms during their time on school premises.
Similarly, Bicol University (BU) has also relaxed its dress code policy in light of the high heat index, permitting both students and personnel alike to wear “comfortable but appropriate attire” for the remainder of the semester.
Students, however, are reminded to always carry along with them their identification cards (ID) or certificate of registration (COR) for easy identification when accessing university premises.
In Naga City, Mayor Nelson Legacion has authorized the school heads or principals to suspend on-site classes and shift to modular distance learning or other learning modalities as the need may arise.
As heat persists and shows no sign of abating, more institutions are expected to follow suit, implementing measures to address the challenges posed by these extreme weather conditions. | Kian Kirby F. Florano