Teachers’ group says looser uniform rules won’t fix classroom heat during strong El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — A teachers’ group has urged the Department of Education to shorten class hours when necessary, adopt hybrid learning arrangements and invest in classroom cooling amid the looming El Niño.

The group said relaxed uniform rules alone will not protect students and teachers from extreme heat as a strong El Niño sets in.

In a statement Monday, October 19, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said it recognized Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s acknowledgment that adjustments, including letting students wear a sando, may be needed.

The group said schools should wait for a formal DepEd policy on official uniforms for both learners and teachers. It warned that unclear rules could cause confusion among schools and add costs for families.

“The issue must not be reduced to what learners and teachers are allowed to wear,” the group said.

Angara announced on Friday, October 16, that public school students would no longer be required to wear uniforms, citing the anticipated heat inside classrooms during El Niño. He told reporters students could come to class in a sando or other informal clothing, provided it was reasonably dignified.  

The state weather bureau PAGASA has put the odds of a “very strong” El Niño at 81%. It expects the event to develop between October 2026 and January 2027, with a 97% chance that El Niño conditions last through the first half of 2027. 

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. has said every province could face drought or very dry conditions by the end of March 2027. More than 100 municipalities have already declared a state of emergency ahead of the phenomenon.  

The Philippines last went through very strong El Niño events in 1982-1983 and 1997-1998. 

El Niño during the school year

This looming El Niño will take place during the current school year. Under a transition plan set in 2024, classes for School Year 2026-2027 were to run from mid-June 2026 to March 2027, restoring the old calendar that keeps students out of school during the traditionally hottest months of April and May. 

PAGASA, however, projects the El Niño to peak in October, November and December. 

In April 2024, extreme heat forced more than 4,000 schools to suspend in-person classes, affecting over 2.4 million students, according to DepEd figures at the time.  

Beyond uniforms, TDC asked DepEd to consider shorter instructional hours and hybrid arrangements that combine face-to-face classes with other learning modes. 

However, it also cautioned: "These arrangements should not result in a wholesale shift to purely modular or online learning, which may disadvantage learners who lack reliable internet access, digital devices, or suitable learning spaces at home."

Over the longer term, the group called on the government to invest in clean and renewable energy for a steadier electricity supply. It also asked for better classroom ventilation, cooling systems, and air-conditioning where feasible.

“The fundamental concern is whether our schools can provide safe, healthy, and conducive learning environments despite the effects of climate change and extreme weather conditions,” TDC said.

Angara has said DepEd is studying the installation of more solar panels in public schools so classrooms stay cooler and students can keep learning even in intense heat. 

At the Senate hearing on his department’s budget, responding to Sen. Bam Aquino’s questions on school preparedness, he said students should be sent home once temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius, or even sooner, because they risk headaches and nosebleeds. 

In July, DepEd opened nationwide consultations on a proposed executive order that would automatically suspend in-person classes and onsite work when hazard thresholds are met, including a heat index of at least 40 degrees Celsius.