THE Department of Education (DepEd) has its hands full these days.

Record heat levels have forced the shift of classes and end-of-school ceremonies indoors. Add to that the public transport strikes that affected teachers, students and administrative staff. And the larger problem of falling scores for Filipino students in Asia-wide assessment examinations in math, science and reading comprehension.

As the extreme heat is expected to continue this month, the DepEd has advised all schools nationwide to hold their end-of-school-year, or EOSY rites — such as graduation and moving-up ceremonies — indoors. These events can be done anywhere from May 29 to 31.

"To ensure the safety and protection of learners, teachers and attendees, schools are advised to hold their EOSY rites in indoor venues, with proper ventilation or covered courts to avoid exposure to the extreme heat of the sun," the DepEd memorandum read.

It also reminded schools to keep their graduation and moving-up ceremonies "simple but meaningful." The department cautioned against "excessive spending, extravagant attire or extraordinary venues."

Moreover, attendance at non-academic activities, such as field trips, film showings, junior-senior promenade and other similar school events, must not be compulsory. They should also not be imposed as graduation or completion requirements.

The DepEd also warned schools that "they shall not be allowed to collect any kind of contribution or fee for the graduation or moving-up ceremony." EOSY rites may be done for kindergarten, Grade 6, Grade 10, Grade 12 and Alternative Learning System (ALS) students who have met the curriculum requirements.

We also suggest that all these students, from kindergarten to the ALS, should just wear their school uniforms during the graduation or moving-up ceremonies. It is a bit of a stretch to see very young students wearing academic gowns and caps, usually reserved for college and university graduates.

Just like last year, online classes were also suspended in several schools this summer because of the extreme heat. This led the DepEd to make a faster transition to the return of the old school calendar, where classes ran from June to March, with vacation slated for April and May. Latest data from the DepEd show that 7,949 public schools nationwide remain under the alternative delivery mode (ADM), instead of holding face-to-face classes.

Previously, the DepEd planned a full return to the old school calendar by the school year 2026-2027. But because of the clamor from several lawmakers and education stakeholders, it said last Tuesday that it had already recommended to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to end the coming school year 2024-2025 in March 2025. The succeeding school year can then start by June.

Aside from the scorching heat, the DepEd also had to suspend classes because of the three-day nationwide transport strikes staged by transport groups Manibela and Piston. The strikes were held from April 29 to May 1 to protest the government's modernization program for public utility vehicles. And we are not seeing the end of these strikes, which prevent students, teachers and administrative staff from coming to school.

Although private schools are not covered by the DepEd's suspension of in-person classes, they have the option to implement the policy or not, the department said.

But the biggest elephant in the room is not the soaring temperatures and the jeepney strikes, but the fact that Juan and Juana in the public schools do not know how to read anymore.

And if they cannot read, how then can they understand basic concepts in mathematics and science, among other subjects?

Reading is the first step on the academic ladder. One way to improve reading and literacy in the Philippine classroom is to promote early literacy programs that focus on reading comprehension, vocabulary development and critical thinking skills.

This can be done through the provision of sufficient textbooks for the students and the public school libraries, as well as the teaching of media literacy and critical thinking skills that this space talked about last week.

Teachers can ask the students to read aloud and provide books at the right level. They should also encourage students to re-read to build fluency. Taking notes while reading a book should also be taught, as well as skills in summarizing a text.

Moreover, teachers should encourage parents during PTA meetings to instill a love of reading among their children. Investing in teacher training is a final important aspect, since well-trained teachers can effectively support students in improving their reading abilities.