How Soccsksargen schools will conduct classes in earthquake aftermath

MANILA, Philippines – A week after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Sarangani, many affected schools in Mindanao began gradually returning to normalcy by conducting check-ins and other activities on Monday, June 15.

The first day of school year (SY) 2026-2027 on June 8 was immediately disrupted in the southern Philippines, prompting the suspension of classes in 9,090 schools across the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, the Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, according to the Department of Education (DepEd). 

Under the DepEd’s new guidelines on learning continuity during emergencies, this meant that schools were under Level 4-Hinto, the level for the most severe situations.

As of Thursday, June 11, the DepEd said 5,590 schools had resumed classes, while classes in the remaining 3,500 schools, many from Soccsksargen and the Davao Region, were still suspended. 

By Monday, areas in the worst-hit Soccsksargen had already lifted class suspension orders, except for General Santos City, Sarangani, and some towns in South Cotabato. Most areas in the Davao Region have also ordered the resumption of in-person classes.

The return to face-to-face classes in several areas came after authorities’ inspections of school buildings and facilities.

Based on the DepEd’s assessments, there were at least 1,501 schools that suffered varying degrees of damage. From these schools, the agency recorded over 9,000 damaged classrooms. At least P363 million is needed for cleanup and clearing operations as well as minor repairs.

Back to in-person classes

Based on the DepEd Soccsksargen office’s announcement, Level 1-Hayo or the in-person class setup was enforced in Cotabato, Kidapawan City, Koronadal City, Tacurong City, and Sultan Kudarat on Monday. In South Cotabato, only the towns of Surallah, Norala, Tantangan, and Santo Niño returned to this level. 

Generally, teachers will prioritize “kumustahan” or check-in sessions with their students this week before continuing to opening block activities, which were originally set for last week.

Opening block activities include orientations, diagnostic tests, health profiling, and other administrative processes to update learners’ data.

Teachers will also have to profile students who were traumatized by the powerful earthquake, so that experts can provide psychological first aid, said Shienna Lyn Antenor, DepEd Soccsksargen chief education supervisor.

In an interview with Rappler, Antenor said schools will follow their learning continuity plans to determine their schedule this week, as they try to catch up with public schools’ new three-term calendar. 

The actual teaching and learning period, or the instructional block, was supposed to begin this week.

Class suspensions remain in hard-hit areas

Multiple factors have to be considered when deciding whether or not to lift class suspensions.

In General Santos City and Sarangani, school buildings suffered major damage, aftershocks are still felt, and residents continue to experience power difficulties and lack of access to potable water. Seven schools in Sarangani also serve as evacuation centers.

“We cannot force them to return to classes because their buildings are still unsafe and they still need to be given psychological first aid for their well-being,” Antenor told Rappler in Filipino.

There is no figure yet on how many students in Soccsksargen are enrolled for SY 2026-2027. But based on the number of learners from the previous school year, there were over 175,000 students in both public and private schools in General Santos City, and around 149,000 in Sarangani.

What happens after lifting of suspension

For students in Sarangani and General Santos City, they may not go back to face-to-face classes just yet even if mayors decide to lift their class suspension orders in the coming days.

Citing the new DepEd guidelines, Antenor said schools in the two areas may first have to implement Level 3-Hinga or Level 2-Hinay, as they wait to ensure that schools are safe and classrooms have been rehabilitated. She also said the transition to these levels would prevent an abrupt return to regular pacing.

Under Level 3-Hinga, academic demands are heavily reduced, with students using “family kits” that support home-based learning. Meanwhile, schools may utilize online synchronous classes, digital modules, broadcast materials, or print modules under Level 2-Hinay.

Antenor said flexible learning programs could be implemented in General Santos City and Sarangani in case of prolonged disruption. These may vary per school or per area to align with local executive orders.

She also said makeup classes or asynchronous activities may be conducted during the end-of-term block, or the last nine to 10 days of the term, to compensate for missed days. The schedule is still up for discussion.

Under the three-term school calendar, the DepEd aims to have 165 days for the instructional block.

“Talagang sinubok ‘yung bagong policy natin at kami talaga ‘yung naka-experience. So, hit or miss din on our part. We’re taking down everything for policy recommendations,” the DepEd Soccsksargen official said of the newly issued guidelines on class suspensions.

(Our new policy has really been put to the test and we were the first to experience it. So, it may be a hit or miss on our part. We’re taking down everything for policy recommendations.)

The lost school days are another hurdle for Soccsksargen, which is among the areas with the highest percentage of struggling readers, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education. – Rappler.com