Class Suspension Guidelines in Division Memorandum No. 1, 2025
Division Memorandum No. 1 Series 2025 sets out the official direction for announcing and managing class suspensions in the Division of Ozamiz City. It helps schools, families, learners, and personnel respond consistently when severe weather, disasters, public safety concerns, or other urgent conditions affect classes.
The memorandum should be read together with national DepEd policies and announcements from authorized government offices. Its purpose is to protect learners and employees while ensuring that school leaders communicate quickly and support learning continuity when regular face-to-face classes cannot proceed.
For public and private schools in Ozamiz City, the guidance provides a common reference for decisions, announcements, attendance concerns, school operations, and post-suspension activities. Using the official division channel helps prevent confusion caused by unverified social media posts or informal messages.
Purpose And Scope
The suspension guidelines apply to situations that may place learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel at risk. These may include typhoons, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic activity, fires, public health emergencies, security threats, and other hazards recognized by competent authorities.
The policy also clarifies that class suspension is a safety measure, not a cancellation of the school’s responsibility to support learning. School heads and teachers should prepare appropriate continuity measures, communicate with parents and guardians, and follow division instructions while conditions are being assessed.
Who May Suspend Classes
Class suspension may be based on official weather or disaster warnings, directives from local government authorities, or decisions made by authorized DepEd officials. The appropriate authority depends on the type, scale, and urgency of the situation.
School heads also have an important role when localized conditions threaten safety in or around the school. They must exercise sound judgment, coordinate with relevant offices when possible, and promptly report decisions through the prescribed channels. Private schools are expected to observe the same safety standards while maintaining their own communication procedures.
Triggers And Official Notices
Announcements should identify the affected areas, grade levels, date, and duration of the suspension whenever those details are available. A notice may cover all classes, selected levels, or specific schools, depending on the hazard and the latest assessment.
Families should rely on official DepEd Ozamiz announcements, school advisories, local government statements, and verified emergency information. A circulating screenshot or forwarded message should not be treated as final unless it can be matched with an official release.
| Situation | Expected response | Key communication point |
|---|---|---|
| Severe weather warning | Follow the applicable automatic or authorized suspension rule | Monitor verified DepEd and local government announcements |
| Flooding or unsafe access roads | Suspend or adjust classes when travel and school safety are compromised | Schools should communicate location-specific risks |
| Earthquake, fire, or structural concern | Prioritize evacuation, assessment, and emergency procedures | Classes resume only when safety is confirmed |
| Public health or security threat | Follow directives from DepEd and competent authorities | Use official health, safety, and school channels |
| Localized school hazard | School head evaluates conditions and coordinates with authorities | Notify the division and affected stakeholders promptly |
Learning Continuity And Safety
When classes are suspended, learners should remain in a safe environment rather than be required to travel for school activities. Teachers may provide reasonable learning tasks through approved channels, but these activities should account for connectivity limits, power interruptions, displacement, and the emotional needs of children.
Schools should avoid treating an emergency day as an ordinary online school day. The priority is safety, followed by flexible learning support. Teachers can use printed materials, learning management systems, modular activities, or other accessible approaches approved by the school and division.
Responsibilities After An Announcement
School heads are responsible for sharing clear information with teachers, learners, parents, and other personnel. They should maintain updated contact details, document the announcement, coordinate with the division office, and monitor conditions before reopening or resuming activities.
Teachers should record relevant instructions, protect learning materials, and avoid requiring learners to attend unsafe activities. Parents and guardians should keep children indoors when conditions are dangerous, check official updates, and inform the school about circumstances that affect participation.
Transparent reporting also supports accountability across the division. Stakeholders can review the division report card as part of understanding how education services and performance information are presented to the public.
Practical Steps For Schools And Families
Preparedness makes a suspension announcement easier to follow. Schools should establish a reliable chain of communication before an emergency occurs, while families should know which official pages, group channels, and school contacts provide verified updates.
Useful actions include:
- Save the school’s official contact details and DepEd Ozamiz information channels.
- Prepare learning materials, medicines, drinking water, flashlights, and emergency contacts.
- Check weather, disaster, and local government advisories before leaving home.
- Follow the exact coverage and schedule stated in the official suspension notice.
- Report urgent safety concerns to the school or appropriate emergency authority.
After conditions improve, wait for an official resumption announcement rather than assuming that classes have returned. Schools may need time to inspect facilities, confirm access routes, restore utilities, and coordinate safe arrangements for learners and personnel.
Use The Official Memo As Your Reference
Division Memorandum No. 1 Series 2025 gives the Ozamiz City education community a consistent framework for responding to class suspension. Its effectiveness depends on timely decisions, accurate communication, responsible interpretation, and cooperation among DepEd offices, schools, local authorities, families, and learners.
Keep the memorandum and verified DepEd Ozamiz announcements accessible, follow safety instructions promptly, and share only confirmed information during emergencies. Regular attention to official updates will help every school community protect people while sustaining education whenever circumstances permit.