Philippines extends school year to July 10, 2021

The Department of Education has extended the school year for basic education to July 10, 2021.

In DepEd Order No. 012, s. 2021 which amended the school calendar for 2020 to 2021, the department declared an intervention and remediation week from March 1 to 12 to address learning gaps among students and to give time to teachers for the different learning delivery modalities.

The department said it identified a need to address learning gaps in order to “meet the required essential learning competencies.”

“These learning gaps are attributable to reduced academic opportunities at home and substantial loss of live contact with teachers,” the DepEd said.

From March 1 to 12, the DepEd said schools should conduct intervention and remediation activities based on the “unique needs of the learners as determined through the results of the different forms of assessments administered for the past two quarters.”

“These interventions and remediation activities shall be indicated in the two-week home learning plan to be prepared by the teachers, with the assistance of the assigned learning support aides (LSAs) as applicable,” it said.

Teachers will also attend a professional development program through an In-Service Training (INSET) from March 15 to 19.

With these additions to the school calendar, the DepEd said the third quarter would be held from March 22 to May 15, while the fourth quarter would be from May 17 to July 10.

“The additional two-week period shall be compensated by a similar adjustment in the school break between S.Y. 2020-21 and S.Y. 2021-2022,” the department added.

Further, the DepEd said private schools, technical vocational institutions and higher education institutions including state and local universities and colleges offering the K to 12 Basic Education Program are encouraged to implement these guidelines according to their “philosophy, vision and mission.”

Earlier, the DepEd said it was considering shortening the two-month summer break of students into two weeks and extending the school year.

Some parents and students didn't agree with the proposal.

In the adjusted school calendar released by DepEd in August 2020, the department said classes would end on June 16, 2021. -NB, GMA News