(Unsplash)

A ranking congressman has thumbed down the Department of Education's (DepEd) proposal to tweak the school year by reverting to the pre-pandemic June to March calendar from the current August to May calendar.

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez's main reason for opposing this is the learners' exposure to the rainy season, which falls within the June to March period.

“Let’s retain the present academic calendar for the sake of our children. Let’s spare them from rainy-season related ailments, like colds, fever and flu,” said Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

He said just one life saved “is worth the decision to shift to the new August-May schedule".

Rodriguez cited studies that have found that there are fewer rainy days in the present school calendar than in the old one.

“Let’s not expose our students and children to more rain, more flooding and more rainy weather-linked risks. The young - those in pre-school, kindergarten and in the grades - are the most vulnerable,” he said.

Rodriguez said fewer rainy days also mean fewer cancellation of classes.

He said the present academic calendar also aligns with the school schedules of many countries. This was another big reason for the shift from June to August opening.

“It enhances collaboration among Philippine and foreign schools and fosters faculty, personnel and student exchanges,” added the veteran lawmaker from Mindanao.

Rodriguez pointed out that reverting the educational system to its old calendar would mean new difficult adjustments on the part of parents, teachers, other school personnel, and students.

“They have already adjusted to the August-May timeline. So, let’s leave it at that, let's not disturb it,” he said.

Instead of tinkering with the academic calendar, he urged DepEd officials to focus on improving eduction in the fields of sciences, mathematics, information technology, history, culture, English, and moral values.

“We have been lagging behind our neighbors in these fields. We used to have a fighting chance in mathematics, science and English, but this has disappeared,” he said.

He said Philippine education has continually deteriorated as evidenced by indisputable surveys on the status of learners.

Rodriguez pointed out that Congress has seen such deterioration years ago, prompting it to create a joint congressional commission to review and come up with recommendations to improve education.

“But our efforts have failed, despite the tens of millions we have spent,” he said.