Here’s the bitter truth we all have to accept: extreme temperatures will soon become the “new normal.”
The heat wave Laguna province and other parts of the country are experiencing is just a prelude of the predicted impacts of climate change. Extreme heat indexes, such as being reported in other parts of the country, could become the norm in the next few years.
And if we are to adapt to the realities of climate change, we have to think far ahead when it comes to ensuring that our students will still receive their education amid this extreme heat.
Suspending face-to-face classes during periods of “dangerous” heat levels is only a stop-gap measure, as well as the Department of Education’s (DepEd) recent decision to revert back to the pre-pandemic school calendar.
We cannot afford to let our youth’s education be interrupted, not after two whole years that they spent learning at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nor will installing air-conditioning units in our schools (as some sectors have called for) will be a practical solution. It will be a big financial burden for public schools, not to mention the fact that they will also contribute to the extreme heat.
Last year, a representative here in Laguna called for “climate-resilient” infrastructure that will ensure the safety and health of students and teachers alike.
This involves designing classrooms that are more resilient to heat, as well as planting trees inside school campuses.
It may not sound appealing to an electorate who are often more drawn to quick solutions like installing air-conditioning units inside schools.
But these are exactly the long-lasting solutions that we need if we are to adapt to rising temperatures.
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