PROBLEMA TUWING TAG-ULAN.......

        

        During the rainy season in our country, most especially during times of typhoons and heavy rains, students, parents, and even school administrators are at a loss as to whether or not classes will be suspended. It seems to me that our government has not yet fully mastered the art of suspending classes. If the government cannot fully address this matter, then how much more our territorial dispute with mighty China over a group of islands?

What is the problem?

        Suspending classes is a basic course of action during the rainy season. Yes, classes indeed are being suspended. But the government still receives a lot of flak, most especially on how the suspension of classes is done. For many times already, the announcement of suspension came in way too late – when students were either on their way to school or were already in school.

        The problem therefore, is the late announcement of suspension of classes most especially when there are heavy rains in lieu of a typhoon. When there is a typhoon, DEPED takes its cue from the storm signal announcements of PAGASA. I must commend DEPED for making early announcements of suspension of classes in elementary, or high school, or both depending on the storm signal. The problem though arises, when there is no typhoon, but heavy rains instead that can cause floods in the metropolis. Where will DEPED take its cue when there are no storm signals precisely because there is no typhoon? In this kind of situation, the city mayors are given the authority to initiate the suspension of classes. News as of late mentioned that even barangay captains can exercise the same authority. But the problem still, is the late suspension of classes.

Does CHED suspend classes?

        Classes in tertiary or college level are rarely suspended, except if storm signal reaches number three. But city mayors and school administrators can suspend classes in college if necessary even if it is not signal number three. CHED issued a statement that they do not suspend classes, period. There was a time when I called them, and the person who answered the phone told me that CHED does not suspend classes (as if I didn’t quite know).

        Are college students not affected by rain? This is the usual query when classes in the tertiary level are spared from any suspension. The rationale behind, is that college students cannot afford to miss their lessons, that’s why classes in college are suspended only when the storm signal has reached the highest which is number three (there was a time when it reached four). Another reason perhaps, is that college students are already grown-ups, and therefore, can maneuver their way to school amidst heavy rains, floods, and strong winds, without much difficulty. Do you agree?

Too many cooks might spoil the broth

        A lot of officials or agencies are empowered to suspend classes – the President, DEPED, NDRMCC (National Disaster and Risk Management Coordinating Council), MMDA, Mayors, School administrators, and now, even barangay captains. I am not sure if the aforesaid list is still accurate, most especially in the case of NDRMMC and MMDA. But nonetheless, given with quite a long list, confusion still arises when it comes to suspending classes, specifically, who should suspend classes. DEPED clearly does its job well in coordination with PAGASA. But with the rest, I am not quite sure. When it comes to the safety of students in all levels, there should be no dilly-dallying, and finger pointing too. 

        With the list, everybody is at a loss as to who will suspend classes most especially in tertiary level. As the idiomatic expression goes, too many cooks might spoil the broth. Who really is in charge of the task? The longer that an announcement is made and the more people or agencies are involved, then the more that a student’s life becomes jeopardized.

Conclusion

        The government has laid out a plan to move the opening of classes from June to September, thereby avoiding the rainy months of June, July, and August. And consequently, avoiding the woes in suspending classes. This entails that the second semester will be extended up to the hot months of April and May, which is not a good idea too due to the scorching heat of the sun. This could badly affect the health of our students, that could result to poor academic performance.

        Moving the opening of the school year to September is not the solution to the problem at hand. What we can all suggest is a more systematic way of suspending classes in all levels in times of typhoons, heavy rains, and floods. Moreover, the authority to suspend classes must come from one or two sources only, in order to avoid confusion, and for easier cascading of information.

        But when everything fails, the parents ultimately, will have the final say on whether or not to send their children to school.