MANILA (October 20) — Easing school uniform rules will do little to protect students and teachers from extreme heat if public schools remain overcrowded, poorly ventilated and dilapidated, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines said, criticizing the Marcos administration for what it called superficial measures ahead of a potentially severe El Niño.
ACT chair Ruby Bernardo said overcrowded classrooms have long exposed students and teachers to uncomfortable and potentially hazardous learning conditions, with even basic ventilation sometimes funded through parents’ contributions and teachers’ personal money.
“Overcrowded classrooms have been a problem for years. Even ventilation is funded through contributions from parents and money taken from teachers’ own pockets,” Bernardo said.
She also criticized the decision to relax uniform requirements as an inadequate response to the worsening heat.
“Making uniforms sleeveless is a senseless remedy if nothing changes in hot, overcrowded and dilapidated classrooms,” she said, comparing the government’s approach to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s proposed “epic pail” solution.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said students would no longer be required to wear uniforms and could wear informal clothing, including sleeveless shirts, provided they remained reasonably decent. He also said the Department of Education was exploring the installation of more solar panels to help keep classrooms cooler.
While lighter clothing may offer some relief, ACT’s criticism points to a broader problem: students and teachers must still spend hours in classrooms where inadequate ventilation, crowded spaces and deteriorating facilities can make extreme heat harder to bear.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sept. 23 that a very strong El Niño was expected to persist through the first half of 2027, bringing warmer temperatures and below-normal rainfall, although episodes of heavy rain could still occur.
The forecast raises concerns about how public schools will manage prolonged hot conditions, particularly where classroom facilities are already inadequate.
For DepEd, the test will not be limited to allowing students to wear lighter clothing or exploring solar power. The department must also address the classroom conditions that leave students and teachers exposed to heat, including overcrowding and poor ventilation, and demonstrate how its measures will make schools safer during prolonged periods of extreme temperatures.
