(MANILA BULLETIN)

Ilocos Sur 1st district Rep. Ronald Singson believes that its time to revert to the old school calendar wherein classes start in June.

Singson filed House Bill (HB) No. 8508, which seeks to establish the first Monday of June of every year as the start of the academic year, harmonizing the opening of the academic year for all Philippine schools.

“More than overhauling, revising, and redesigning the existing curriculum, other issues on education, such as setting a school calendar that is most beneficial to learners, should also be considered,” said Singson.

The current School Year (SY) 2022-2023 formally started on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. It is scheduled to end on Friday, July 7, 2023.

Singson said the change in the academic calendar resulted from the two-year lockdown on learners.

However, the lifting of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and the full implementation of face-to-face classes should prompt the Department of Education (DepEd) to gradually change the school calendar due to several pressing factors.

“The extreme heat experienced by teachers and students during the dry season, which is deemed not conducive to learning, and the students being unable to enjoy the school break because of the rainy season are the main reasons why we should change the opening of schools,” he said.

He also added that while it is difficult to predict the weather due to climate change, the former school calendar is what suits the country best.

Recently, more than 100 students in Cabuyao, Laguna were hospitalized due to hunger and dehydration after the heat index hovered between 39 to 42 degrees Celsius.

The Singson measure covers all basic education institutions in the country, including foreign and international schools.

The bill would amend Republic Act (RA) No. 7797, as amended, otherwise known as "An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from Two Hundred (200) Days to Not More Than Two Hundred Twenty (220) Class Days”.