Education Sec suggests hybrid learning due to extreme heat

Education Secretary Sonny Angara suggested on Monday that increased use of renewable energy could help mitigate classroom heat due to climate change.

Angara is studying the possibility of hybrid learning models to address expected high temperatures in coming months, though he did not elaborate on how it would be implemented.

He noted that schools utilizing solar power can maintain air conditioning, particularly in computer rooms, reducing the need for cancellations during extreme heat conditions.

Last week, soaring temperatures led to school closures in nearly half of Metro Manila as the dry season began.

Angara also emphasized considering hybrid learning models with more days allocated for online classes to accommodate heat-related suspensions while preserving teacher-student interactions.

State weather bureau PAGASA forecasted that Metro Manila's heat index would reach between 38 to 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday, posing a risk of heat cramps and exhaustion.