DepEd warns public vs fake AI-generated class suspension video

The Department of Education (DepEd) has warned the public against a circulating artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video falsely announcing the suspension of classes on Monday, July 28.

In a Facebook post, the agency labeled the content as “fake news” and stressed that no such suspension has been declared.

“Fake news ang ipinakakalat na AI video ng isang FB page tungkol sa umano’y suspensyon ng klase bukas, Hulyo 28,” the DepEd said.

(The AI video being circulated by a Facebook page about a supposed class suspension on July 28 is fake news.)

It urged the public to exercise caution and verify information before sharing or believing online content, especially materials that appear to use emerging technologies like AI to appear legitimate.

The department emphasized that all official announcements regarding class suspensions, education policies, and other matters will be posted only on DepEd Philippines’ official social media accounts and website.

Meanwhile, the agency did not specify which Facebook page created the AI video but reiterated the importance of relying only on verified sources, particularly during weather disturbances or emergency situations when misinformation spreads rapidly.

Earlier this month, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara appealed to local governments not to hastily suspend classes during light rains, warning that frequent cancellations have a negative effect on learning among Filipino students.

“Nakikiusap din kami sa publiko, mga magulang, mga estudyante. Huwag natin masyadong i-pressure ang ating local government, chief executives na konting ulan mag-suspend na tayo dahil pag sinumatotal natin ang nawawalang araw, malaki ang dagok o tama sa ating mga estudyante, yung tinatawag na learning loss,” Angara said.

(We appeal to the public, to parents, to students. Let’s avoid pressuring our local government officials to suspend classes every time it rains lightly, because when we total all the days we missed, the impact on our students is huge—this what we call learning loss.)

He said the education department is now requiring schools to hold make-up classes to ensure students can still complete the required learning hours. — Sherilyn Untalan/RSJ, GMA Integrated News