The Philippines is sweltering in a heatwave that’s forecast to last for a few more weeks, with temperatures rising even higher. Thousands of schools have suspended in-person classes and are now teaching online. It’s prompted concern that the quality of education, already one of the worst in the world, could further deteriorate.

Manila

The Philippines is currently facing a severe heatwave that has forced thousands of schools to suspend in-person classes and switch to online learning. This change is due to the extreme temperatures, which have prompted government officials to allow school administrators the discretion to close schools when forecasts predict temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. This measure aims to protect students and educators from the health risks associated with the heat, but there are concerns about the impact on education quality.

The switch to online learning, while necessary under the circumstances, is not without its challenges. Parents and students have expressed concerns that the lack of face-to-face interaction could hinder the learning process. The quality of education in the Philippines, which a World Bank study last year highlighted as one of the worst in the world, stands at risk of further decline due to these disruptions. The study found that nearly all 10-year-olds in the country could not read simple text, indicating a deep-seated issue with literacy and basic education skills.

The government's decision to adapt the academic calendar is a notable response to the challenges posed by climate change. By 2028, public schools are expected to shift their break period to the hottest months of March to May, away from the traditional break during the typhoon and monsoon season in June to July. This adjustment is seen as a step towards mitigating the impact of rising temperatures on the educational sector.

Apart from its impact on education, the heatwave is causing widespread damage across the Philippines. Instances include the destruction of 19 cars in a fire at Manila's airport, believed to be triggered by a grass fire, and significant losses in the agriculture sector. The latter, exacerbated by a drought linked to the El Niño weather pattern, has led to an estimated $70 million in damage. The heatwave has also led to power plant outages and drying up water reservoirs, underscoring the extensive effects of extreme weather conditions on various aspects of life in the Philippines.



Schools close amid heat wave in Philippines

Andrea Faldas hasn't been to school for days. Instead, she's taking classes online. Her school is closed, as are thousands of others across the Philippines, during a heatwave that's lasted weeks. The government has given administrators permission to suspend classes when the forecast hits 40 degrees Celsius. Parents say it's good to have the option to learn online, but it isn't ideal. It was a benefit of the pandemic that we can opt to choose either online or modular. But for me, learning needs a face-to-face interaction, so I prefer face-to-face learning for her. Andrea agrees, but also says she finds it unbearable to sit in a classroom for hours. It does affect my learning because sometimes when I'm in school and it's 39 degrees Celsius, I sometimes get my nose bleed. It's threatening to worsen the already poor quality of learning among Filipino schoolchildren. A study by the World Bank last year found almost all 10-year-olds couldn't read simple text. There are many pupils who were promoted to the next level of the grade level, but we found out that they are non-readers, or they could hardly write, maybe because they are using tablet or cell phone. They are only using their fingers, so when you ask them to write, they could not. The government had hoped the return to classroom learning would bridge the gap, but climate change is slowing efforts. While schools here in the Philippines have been taking measures to cope with the heat, the Education Department has decided to take a more concrete step. It's ordered public schools to gradually return to the old academic calendar where students take a break during the hottest months of March to May by 2028, instead of June to July when typhoons and monsoon rains are frequent. Education isn't the only sector affected. On Monday, 19 cars parked at Manila's airport were destroyed by what's believed to be a grass fire. Power plants are going offline and water reservoirs are drying up. And the damage to agriculture, exacerbated by a drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern, is estimated at nearly $70 million. Barnabilo, Algecira, Manila.

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