The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued guidelines to help school heads determine whether to continue face-to-face classes, shift to hybrid learning or suspend classes during periods of extreme heat.
DepEd Memorandum No. 64, series of 2026, signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, establishes temperature-based guidelines for public and private schools nationwide.
The guidelines aim to protect students and school personnel from heat stress, dehydration and other health risks while minimizing unnecessary disruptions to classroom instruction.
“We simply can’t wait until we’ve got extreme heat to act. Our plan this year is proactive, targeted and well organized,” Angara said in a press statement.
Under the memorandum, school heads must record classroom temperature and humidity readings at 8 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. to guide decisions on class arrangements.
The guidelines set the following thresholds:
- Below 27 degrees Celsius: Regular face-to-face classes may continue.
- 27 to 32 degrees Celsius: School heads may shorten on-site hours or shift to hybrid learning.
- 33 to 41 degrees Celsius: Face-to-face classes are suspended, and learners shift to home-based activities.
- 42 degrees Celsius and above: Both face-to-face classes and home-based activities are suspended.
School heads must coordinate class suspensions with the concerned local government unit (LGU) to ensure local officials are informed and can respond accordingly.
The guidelines give school leaders flexibility to respond to conditions in their respective campuses rather than rely on a nationwide suspension policy. Heat conditions can vary across cities, municipalities and even individual schools.
DepEd’s approach emphasizes decisions based on actual classroom conditions, using temperature and humidity measurements to determine appropriate measures.
The policy seeks to balance two priorities during extreme heat. One is to protect the health and safety of learners and personnel. The other is to preserve instructional time whenever conditions allow classes to continue.
By establishing measurable thresholds and requiring coordination with LGUs, the department aims to reduce confusion and last-minute disruptions as temperatures rise during the El Niño phenomenon.
Parents, teachers and local officials are encouraged to monitor announcements from school heads and LGUs for updates on class arrangements and possible suspensions.
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