Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Repeated class suspensions due to inclement weather could further aggravate the Philippines’ existing learning crisis, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) warned, following consecutive days of class cancellations amid heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat. </p><p>The commission said prolonged disruptions could further affect learning outcomes, particularly in literacy, numeracy, science and math, as the country already loses an average of 40 to 50 instructional days annually to various disruptions.</p><p>EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee told ABS-CBN News that the commission has been monitoring class suspensions since 2023. During its first year of monitoring, it recorded 53 days lost to suspensions caused by calamities, the heat index and typhoons, out of only 180 instructional days in a school year. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/15/edcom-2-rejects-rush-to-shift-school-calendar-pushes-climate-ready-learning-1610"><strong>EDCOM 2 rejects rush to shift school calendar, pushes climate-ready learning</strong></a></div><p>Yee said the impact of class suspensions varies depending on students’ age and ability to learn independently.</p><p>“Pero magkaiba iyong challenge pagdating sa mga mas batang mga estudyante at sa mga mas matatandang estudyante, or pwede nga natin sabihin iyong independent learners at non-independent learners. Kasi sa edad, Grades 1 to 3 for example, &#x27;pag suspended iyong klase, mahihirapan silang maturuan sa bahay,&quot; Yee said.</p><p>&quot;So, iyong learning nila ng literacy at numeracy, medyo challenged iyon. Kasi kailangan talaga doon, at mas maganda, kung face-to-face, kasi iyong instruction ng teachers talagang kailangan nagsasalita, maririnig iyong bata,&quot; he added.</p><p>Older learners, including those in junior and senior high school, may be better able to continue learning during suspensions if they are already literate, can learn independently and have access to appropriate learning materials.</p><p>However, Yee said schools need to closely monitor disruptions that last several consecutive days.</p><p>“Kapag consecutive or masyadong matagal, katulad ng nakita natin in the last weeks, halos 3 to 5 days sunod-sunod talagang walang classes. Kailangan na natin talaga ding bantayan ano ba iyong mga lessons na na-skip,” he said. </p><p>“Naa-assess ba natin kung iyong learners, &#x27;pag meron tayong ADM or alternative delivery modes, pagbalik ba ng klase, may natutuhan ba sila or wala? So, dapat maagap tayo sa pag-assess,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/26/edcom-ii-final-report-on-issues-necessary-reforms-in-education-launched-1907"><strong>EDCOM II final report on issues, ‘necessary reforms’ in education launched </strong></a> </div><p>Yee said the current measures remain sufficient to absorb the learning losses for now, but the situation could become more concerning if disruptions continue into the second term. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TERM 2 A BIGGER CONCERN</strong></div><p>The school year is still in its first term, yet the recent weather-related suspensions have already resulted in a significant number of lost instructional days, Yee said.</p><p>He pointed to September, October, and November as months when more typhoons and class suspensions could occur, making continued monitoring necessary. </p><p>“It is concerning kasi nasa term 1 pa lang tayo, ang dami ng araw ang nawala. So, lalo na &#x27;pag magsusunod-sunod ito and based on our study, September, October, November talaga, d&#x27;yan hahagupit ang maraming bagyo at suspension lalo,&quot; he explained.</p><p>“Mas kailangan nating bantayan ito ng mabuti, maging vigilant tayo. Kasi right now, I think the current measures are still sufficient to absorb the loss of learning at kaya pang habulin &#x27;yan. Pero pag nagtuloy-tuloy ito ng term 2 doon natin titingnan,&quot; he added. </p><p>If disruptions persist into the second term, EDCOM 2 will have to consider additional solutions and interventions to prevent further learning losses, Yee said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TEACHERS ALSO AFFECTED </strong></div><p>The impact of weather-related disruptions extends beyond students, as teachers may also have their own families, homes and communities affected by disasters, Yee said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/28/87-of-grade-11-students-assessed-are-non-independent-readers-edcom-2-1912"><strong>87% of Grade 11 students assessed are &#x27;non-independent&#x27; readers — EDCOM 2</strong></a></div><p>He stressed that teacher safety must come first before learning continuity measures are implemented.</p><p>“Lahat ng guro natin, tao din, may pamilya din, &#x27;pag binagyo, maaaring apektado din. So unang-una, katulad sa mga estudyante, their safety is paramount,&quot; Yee said.</p><p>“And so hopefully iyong mga schools natin, may paraan na hindi lamang tutukan iyong mga estudyante nila, pero maging bilang isang komunidad, siguruhin na ligtas ang lahat ng guro,&quot; he added. </p><p>Once teachers are safe, Yee said they need adequate training, materials, and clear guidance to sustain learning during prolonged suspensions.</p><p>“After ng kaligtasan ng mga guro, tsaka palang papasok iyong learning continuity. And to do that, kailangan may training din talagang provided sa mga teachers,&quot; he said.</p><p>Yee said training and ready-to-use learning materials would help reduce the burden on teachers, particularly when suspensions extend long enough to require adjustments to lessons and learning continuity programs.</p>

<p>Repeated class suspensions due to inclement weather could further aggravate the Philippines’ existing learning crisis, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) warned, following consecutive days of class cancellations amid heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat.</p>

Repeated class suspensions due to inclement weather could further aggravate the Philippines’ existing learning crisis, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) warned, following consecutive days of class cancellations amid heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat.

EDCOM 2: Repeated class suspensions could deepen PH learning crisis

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EDCOM 2: Repeated class suspensions could deepen PH learning crisis

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 15, 2026 04:25 PM PHT

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DepEd

Class Suspension

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