Philippines overhauls school year to shield students from soaring temperatures. (Photo: iStock)
To cope with extreme heat driven by climate change, the Philippines has taken decisive steps to protect its students, including starting school vacations earlier this year.
The government has moved the academic calendar forward by two months, shortened daily class hours, and introduced contingency measures for home-based learning to prevent a repeat of last year’s heatwave-related school shutdowns.
Heatwaves force schools to suspend classes
The Philippines, on the front lines of the climate crisis, is already seeing dangerous heat levels this year—despite not yet reaching May, typically the hottest month.
The heat index, which considers both temperature and humidity, has repeatedly reached dangerous levels, forcing nearly half of Manila’s schools to suspend classes for two days.
According to Wilmer Agustin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the El Niño phenomenon has worsened the unusually warm conditions. Government forecasts warn that for all of 2025, the country is expected to remain under high to extreme heat alerts, particularly in April and May, when the dry season peaks and rainfall is scarce.
Last April, temperatures soared to 38.8°C, setting a new national record. The prolonged heat led to the first nationwide class suspension, affecting six million students for two weeks. Many schools reported cases of heatstroke and nosebleeds among students in classrooms without air conditioning, with some cases requiring hospitalization.
Pedestrians in the Philippines raise their umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. (Image: Wayne S. Grazio / Flickr)
Revised school schedule, home learning initiatives
To prevent a recurrence, the government has reinstated the traditional June-to-March school calendar and limited in-person classes to four hours a day to minimize midday exposure. Schools are also equipped with water stations and at least two wall-mounted fans per classroom. Some have added heat-reflective roofing and hired additional school nurses.
New measures to support remote learning were also rolled out this year. Since only 3% of affected students had internet access during last year’s heatwave, schools are now required to prepare printed learning materials in advance to ensure education continues uninterrupted.
The Department of Education has allocated approximately PHP 10 billion (about USD 176 million) for climate adaptation, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness. However, the budget falls short, especially in urban areas like Manila, where classroom and teacher shortages persist. Some public schools are forced to share classrooms or limit classes to just four days a week.
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