The Marcos administration is seeking to shift to the old school calendar by next year, according to National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

Balisacan stated that the government is already working on the implementation mechanics of the shift to the old school calendar, wherein classes begin on June until March, and summer break is designated in the months of April and May.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier proposed to revert to the old school calendar following the impacts of El Niño at present that prompted schools to suspend classes due to extreme heat.

"Well, of course, hiningi ko ‘yan sa DepEd (I asked that from Department of Education) and I asked Inday Sara [Vice President Sarah Duterte] to give me already a concrete plan because mukha naman, hindi na tayo kailangan maghintay pa. At mukha naman ay kailangan na at (it looks like we do not need to wait. And it seems like we need it now and) I don’t see any objections really from anyone," Marcos said, referring to the revert to old school calendar.

The NEDA chief also ensured that it will expedite the initiative for digitization as asynchronous classes remain an option in cases of class suspensions.

Based on the data from the DepEd, 5,844 public schools out of 47,678 have suspended onsite classes online classes due to extreme heat.

Central Luzon has the highest record of schools suspending onsite classes at 1,124, followed by Central Visayas, 792; Soccsksargen, 678; Bicol region, 634 schools; Zamboanga peninsula, 610; and Western Visayas, 536.

Skills-based course

Balisacan also expressed its intention to adapt courses that adapt to artifical intelligence resurgence to match the skills required by companies.

He cited a state university that implemented a micro-certification program wherein the university will develop a module specifically based on the skillset required by companies.

“You need the industry, the academe, and government working together. Kami sa NEDA nag-provide tayo ng framework for that. Lalo na yung trabahong, Trabaho Para sa Bayan. That is a good framework for getting this type part right. Para yung mga institutions dapat natin nag-re-respond agad at mabilis doon sa mga requirements ng industry,” Balisacan said.

The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, which was signed into law last year, aims to facilitate stronger coordination and partnerships between public and private sectors to roll out programs that will raise the country’s productivity.

The law will also cement linkages among industry, the academe, and the government to address skills mismatch and improve the competitiveness of the domestic workforce.