Some schools start classes a week after SY 2024-2025 opening

Several schools in the country have only started classes on Monday, August 5, a week later than the opening of School Year 2024-2025 on July 29, due to the effects of the recent typhoons and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

One of these schools is the Nangka Elementary School in Marikina City, which caters to over 3,700 students from Kinder to Grade 6, based on an Unang Balita report of Mariz Umali.

Principal Dr. Wilfredo Padua said that they had to start classes late as their school was used as an evacuation center in the aftermath of the recent weather systems.

“Medyo naging struggle sa amin talaga ‘yung ating evacuation kasi ang school natin ay naging evacuation site. Hindi po ito naging hadlang sa amin para mag-prepare today kasi syempre tulong tulong ang SDO (Schools Division Office) Marikina sa pagsasaayos ng ating facilities,” he said in an interview.

(It was a bit of a struggle for us because our school was used as an evacuation site. But this did not hinder us from preparing today because everyone helped in cleaning our facilities.)

Padua said that all of the classrooms in Nangka Elementary School were used as an evacuation site for the affected residents, but the Marikina local government, along with teachers, parents, and guardians, helped to prepare for the opening of classes.

He also said that they have to conduct classes every Saturday to make up for the missed ones.

In Mangatarem, Pangasinan, 54 schools were set to hold their first day of classes on Monday, following the onslaught of Typhoon Carina.

At Mangatarem High School, more 5,000 students were expected to go back to school, based on a report of GMA Regional TV’s Russel Simorio.

Principal Elvira Viray said they were not able to conduct modular or online classes last week, thus they also have to implement make-up classes.

Among the schools that are also set to open classes are San Joaquin Elementary School in La Union and Rodolfo Fariñas Jr. National Science High School in Laoag City.

Meanwhile, Malabon National High School, which was also supposed to conduct its first day of classes, had to suspend classes on Monday due to the heavy rains and flooding in the area.

 

Some students, however, still went to the school early Monday morning before finding out that classes in all levels, both in public and private schools, in Malabon City are suspended, based on an Unang Balita report of EJ Gomez.

Here is the list of areas that suspended classes on Monday, August 5, due to bad weather caused by the Southwest Monsoon and the "unity walk" conducted by some transport groups. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA Integrated News