Heat indices of above 40 degrees Celsius have recently been recorded by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in various locations in the country, and this poses severe health risks to students and instructors alike, said Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark).
Spark, an activist organization, called for a moratorium on NSTP and mass promotion for all NSTP classes, in light of high temperatures.
Mass promotion was similarly done in 2020 when classes were abruptly interrupted when the government ordered a complete lockdown to avert the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“To continue outdoor activities like NSTP is to place students all over the country in direct and imminent danger,” said John Lazaro, Spark national coordinator, in a statement.
“We do not need any more hospitalizations or even deaths to realize that we need to keep our students safe from extreme weather,” he added.
The group said various government agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DepEd), have already recorded hundreds of instances of heat stroke or heat exhaustion among students.
Multiple students have died from direct exposure to the heat, including a student athlete from Colegio de San Agustin who was playing in a football tournament last month, it added.
“We cannot look at all the damage done to students’ health and proceed with placing them directly in the heat of the sun to do community service or tedious military drills,” Lazaro said.
“Instead of pursuing a watered-down indoor-only version of NSTP, it would make the most sense to suspend the program for this semester and give all students taking it a passing grade,” he added.
Lazaro also said that such measures are only short-term solutions to the worsening climate crisis.
“We cannot hide from the ever-intensifying climate crisis forever just by suspending outdoor activities or trying to improve ventilation,” he said.
“Superficial targets and conservative climate action by the government is no longer acceptable. We absolutely need to make learning safe and agency heads must quit dilly-dallying,” he added.
The NCSTP program is jointly administered by the Department of National Defense, Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. (LMY/PR)