DepED announces students may now wear sando in public schools

DepEd allows public school students to wear 'sando,' civilian clothes amid Super El Niño threat

Public school students across the country are temporarily exempted from wearing formal school uniforms and may opt for sleeveless shirts (sando) or other comfortable civilian clothing as the Department of Education (DepEd) braces for extreme classroom heat brought by a looming Super El Niño.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced the relaxed dress code policy to help learners cope with rising temperatures inside public school classrooms, noting that student welfare and comfort remain the agency's priority.

“There is no need to wear a uniform; they can even just wear a sando, as long as it is somewhat dignified, because we know it gets hot inside the classrooms,” Angara said.

While the department is giving students the flexibility to dress down to beat the heat, DepEd reminded parents and learners that school attire must still remain decent, respectful, and appropriate for a learning environment. Under existing DepEd Order No. 65, s. 2010, school uniforms are not strictly mandatory in public schools to avoid additional financial burden on families.

The directive forms part of DepEd’s broader preparedness measures following warnings from the state weather bureau (PAGASA) that dry conditions and extreme heat indices could intensify as a "very strong" El Niño develops in the coming months.

Alongside the relaxed uniform rules, Angara also directed schools to prepare for a smooth transition to Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM)—such as modular or online learning—should classroom temperatures reach dangerous levels, while also strengthening school gardening programs and exploring the use of solar power in schools.