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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senators hail DepEd for heeding calls for flexible school calendar

Senators hail DepEd for heeding calls for flexible school calendar

Published Feb 21, 2024 06:04 am

Senators on Wednesday, February 21 commended the Department of Education (DepEd) for heeding the call to be more flexible and adaptive in determining school calendar days and prioritizing the welfare of the students. 

“I fully support the DepEd’s move to shift the closing of the current academic year from June 14, 2024 to May 31, 2024,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said in a statement.

“This is a significant step to revert to the old school calendar, which opens in June and ends by March or April,” Gatchalian added.

The senator said it is important to take note that in a Pulse Asia survey conducted from June 19 to 23, 2023, 80 percent of the 1,200 respondents are agreeable to suggestions to revert to students’ summer break during April and May. 

In a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Basic Education last Aug. 23, 2023, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) had pointed out that the current school calendar coincides with fewer days of extreme rainfall and less cancellation of classes due to tropical cyclones. 

But the current school calendar also has more school days with extremely hot temperatures and reverting to the old school calendar will ensure the safety and well-being of the country’s teachers and students. 

“I thank the DepEd for heeding the call of our teachers, learners, and relevant stakeholders in returning to the old school calendar,” Gatchalian said.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva commended the DepEd’s move saying he too, doesn’t want a repeat of what happened to the 120 students in Laguna who were hospitalized due to heat exhaustion during a fire drill last year. 

“This is why we authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11480 during the 18th Congress to give the agency the flexibility to adjust the school calendar based on necessity, especially now that the country is experiencing the effects of El Niño,” Villanueva said.

However, the senator said DepEd should ensure that this adjustment does not reduce the length of the school calendar mandated by law, which is a minimum of 200 days. 

“Additionally, we hope that there will be synchronicity between the DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). There must be no lull time for students who are transitioning from secondary to tertiary levels,” Villanueva said.

“We urge the CHED and other higher education institutions (HEIs) to consider this change so that the students will not lose their momentum in studying and no time will be wasted for them to learn,” he stressed. 

 

Related Tags

school calendar joel villanueva Sherwin Gatchalian DepEd
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