Technology · Philippines Bureau
DepEd prepares El Niño response plan for 2026-2027 school year
The Department of Education is rolling out comprehensive protocols to safeguard students and maintain educational services during the anticipated El Niño phenomenon. The guidelines will address extreme heat, water shortages, and disruptions to feeding programs across the country's schools.
LSN Philippines ·
Education Secretary Sonny Angara is preparing departmental directives to equip schools nationwide with contingency measures for the expected El Niño effects during School Year 2026–2027. The protocols aim to mitigate climate-related challenges that could compromise student safety and academic continuity.
The guidelines will establish standards for protecting learners from heat stress and managing potential water supply constraints in school facilities. Officials are coordinating with the Department of Science and Technology to ensure preparedness strategies align with climate projections and scientific recommendations.
School administrators will be required to implement measures safeguarding the National School Feeding Program, a critical nutrition support system for millions of Filipino students. The directives are expected to provide flexibility for schools to adapt responses based on regional climate variations and local resource availability.
The preemptive approach addresses recurring challenges schools have faced during previous El Niño episodes, when extreme temperatures and drought conditions disrupted normal operations. Officials emphasized that advance planning would minimize disruption to learning while ensuring student welfare remains a priority during adverse weather conditions.