The old school calendar, which starts in June and ends in March, should be implemented this incoming school year 2025-2026, a teachers’ group said on Thursday, April 4.
“Isa sa mga ipinanawagan namin is dapat ibalik na ng DepEd dun sa old school calendar kung saan iyong klase ay magsisimula ng June at matatapos ng Marso (One of our appeals is that the DepEd should revert to the old school calendar where classes start in June and end in March),” Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) National Chairperson Benjo Basas said.
“Sa tingin natin, kaya na itong gawin ngayon. Hindi na magpapatagal dapat (We believe that this can be done now. There shouldn't be any further delay),” Basas explained.
Basas stressed that by next year or 2025, schools should no longer have classes in April and May because of the impact of hot weather on teachers and students.
Based on the latest data from DepEd, 3,954 schools have suspended onsite classes and are currently implementing Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) due to the extreme heat. The learning of 1,393,806 students is affected due to the extreme weather conditions, based on DepEd’s monitoring.
READ:
In February this year, the DepEd Order No. 003 series of 2024 entitled Amendment to DepEd Order No. 22 series of 2023 or the Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for the School Year 2023-2024, was released.
“SY 2024-2025 shall start on July 29, 2024, Monday and end on May 16, 2025, Friday,” DepEd said.
DepEd noted that the adjustment in the school calendar for the incoming SY “recognizes the clamor to gradually revert” the school calendar to the pre-pandemic opening of classes.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/20/dep-ed-sets-opening-for-school-year-2024-2025-on-july-29
Students, teachers suffer
For TDC, the school calendar released by DepEd for the incoming school year would still keep teachers and students in school in the hottest months of April and May.
If DepEd continues the school year until May 16, 2025, Basas said the children and teachers will continue to suffer.
“Magka-cut din ng klase at magsu-suspend din mga face-to-face classes para hindi masyado mahirapan ang mga bata at teachers sa matinding iniit na nararanasan natin ng Abril at Mayo (Classes will be eventually be disrupted and face-to-face classes will also be suspended to alleviate the difficulties experienced by both children and teachers during the intense heat of April and May),” Basas said.
Optimal scheme
For TDC, DepEd should develop an “optimal scheme” when adjusting the school calendar.
“Tingin pwede nang paigisiin, na hindi ito mangagahulugan na iikli ang bakasyon ng ating mga guro dapat magkaroon ng optimal scheme kung paano ito gagawin (We think it's possible to find a solution without necessarily shortening the vacation of our teachers. There should be an optimal scheme on how to do this),” Basas said. “Hindi naman kailangan mag-suffer ang bakasyon ng mga guro (The vacation of teachers doesn't need to suffer either),” he added.
Should there be a need to “shorten” teachers' vacation, Basas said they should be compensated --- through a grant of service credits or extra pay.
Citing the existing guidelines of DepEd and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Basas said teachers are entitled to a two-month vacation every school year.
RELATED STORY:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/5/changes-in-the-school-calendar-group-says-students-need-a-fixed-schedule