The National Youth Commission (NYC) on Wednesday, Jan. 19, urged the public and private education stakeholders to heed the call for a national academic break following the rise in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the country.
"As the country records the highest tally of new cases since the start of the pandemic, the situation calls for a time to get vaccinated and a time to focus on the Filipino people's physical and mental health," NYC said in a statement.
"NYC believes that the said academic break can be beneficial to assess the current situation and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic sector, especially to the Filipino youth," it added.
The NYC also recommended a Five-Day National Academic Health Break to prioritize and ensure fast vaccination rollout for students, teachers, and school personnel.
The Commission on Higher Education on Monday, Jan. 17, reported that at least 260 higher education institutions have declared and will declare academic break.