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| Photo by Ammiel B. Maestrado/The Varsitarian, via Facebook |
With the revised class suspension protocols, the university has aligned with the updated guidelines per the Department of Education (DepEd). Under the new policy, classes at all levels will continue to proceed under Signal No. 1.
On January 27, the Office of the Secretary-General (OSG) updated the university's inclement weather policies, reflecting the changes made by DepEd on disaster and emergency class suspensions.
Under the new DepEd rules, the University shall now adapt to these protocols:
- Signal No. 1 - Only Kindergarten classes will be suspended.
- Signal No. 2 - Face-to-face Junior High School (JHS) classes will be suspended. Schools are encouraged to implement self-learning, performance tasks, or make-up classes.
- Signal No. 3 - Classes at all levels will be suspended.
If face-to-face classes are called off after starting, students can stay on campus for up to three hours to account for the heavy vehicular and foot traffic.
In the absence of a typhoon signal or an official suspension announcement, the OSG stated that classes would proceed as scheduled, emphasizing the principles of dialogue, flexibility, and accessibility.
This new protocol marks a significant shift from the previous protocols. Previously, classes up to the Senior High School (SHS) were automatically suspended under Signal no. 1, in line with DepEd Order 37 from 2022. The revision of DepEd’s class suspension rules follows a directive order from Education Secretary Sonny Angara in November, ordering a policy review to address the increasing number of school days lost due to typhoons.
It was reported that at least 12 school days in the Academic Year 2024-2025 have already been disrupted due to inclement weather. By implementing these updated guidelines, the university aims to strike a balance between minimizing disruption and prioritizing the well-being of the students and faculty.
