Two-week summer break? DepEd mulls extending school year

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said it is considering shortening the two-month summer break of students into two weeks and extending the school year.

“Hindi na magkakaroon ng mahabang break sa pagitan ng dalawang taong pasukan. Baka dalawang linggo lang. Pag-uusapan din ‘yan,” Education undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said in Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras.”

According to the official, the DepEd may also extend the quarter by two weeks to give students more time to complete school requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kami may balak na mag-propose na dalawang linggo ngayong quarter, so ibig sabihin magmo-move ‘yung school calendar ng dalawang linggo pag na-approve ito,” San Antonio said.

A field report that arrived at DepEd on the first quarter showed that 99 percent of students were able to submit school requirements.

San Antonio, however, said the remaining 1 percent was still concerning.

“Pero ‘yun kasing less than 1 percent sa 20 something million na leaners is also a significant number. Hindi naman dahil nakakapag-submit, natututo,” he said.

Some students have expressed disapproval over the proposal, including Grade 12 student Shekinah Marie Fuertes, who sells various items to help her family when she has no classes.

“Kung e-extend pa po nila, bakit parang… ano po para po sa akin ‘yung time po na ‘yun ilalaan ko na lang po sa pagtitinda,” Fuertes said.

The extension will not only be hard for students but also for parents, such as Bernie Barcia. Barcia’s four children are all in school.

“’Yung mga bata hindi natututo nang maayos kasi magulang na ang gumagawa,” he said.

Some parents, meanwhile, agrees with the extension.

“Mas maigi ‘yun kasi maraming matutunan ‘yung bata,” Norma Mendoza said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News