DepEd mulls four-day school week in select NCR schools

(Updated 5:27 p.m.) Some schools in Metro Manila may observe a four-day school week for the upcoming school year due to the expected heavy traffic that will be caused by several infrastructure projects.

At a congressional hearing on Monday, Education Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali said the four-day school week may be implemented on 20 schools identified by the DepEd-National Capital Region (NCR).

The 20 schools are those that will be affected the most by the traffic jam along EDSA once the road projects begin, he said. These are:

Manila

• P. Zamora Elementary School
• Carlos P. Garcia Elementary School
• Legarda Elementary School
• E. Rodriguez Elementary School
• Celedonio Salvador Elementary School
• Rafael Palma Elementary School
• Bagong Barangay Elementary School

Quezon City

• Balingasa Elementary School
• San Jose Elementary School
• San Jose High School
• Masambong Elementary School
• Betty Go-Belmonte Elementary School
• Carlos Albert High School
• Manuel A. Roxas High School

Caloocan City

• Grace Park Elementary School
• Grace Park Annex Elementary School

Parañaque City

• Tambong Elementary School

Pasay City

• Kalayaan High School

Valenzuela City

• Malinta Elementary School

Malabon City

• Potrero Elementary School

Not yet final

The list, however, is not yet final, Umali said.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino has proposed the idea of a four-day school week to the Department of Education.

The DepEd will use the remaining weeks left for classes until March to further study the MMDA’s suggestion, Umali told reporters at the sidelines of the House committee on Metro Manila development hearing.

“Bagama't naiintindihan po namin ang rason ni Chairman Tolentino para sa suhestiyon na ito, dapat po nating isipin na hindi biro [ang pagbabawas ng school days] sapagkat malaki ang mawawala sa oras na nakalaan para sa mga estudyante,” Umali said.

Some of the schools on the DepEd’s list, however, were not on the MMDA’s list of educational institutions that will be affected by the construction of infrastructure projects.

Tolentino showed the list—which includes some colleges and universities—to members of the media after the hearing.

Construction projects

Among the government's major infrastructure projects this year is the Skyway Project Stage 3, which will complete the Metro Manila Skyway System from Alabang to Balintawak.  

Based on the MMDA’s estimates, 31,612 vehicles will be displaced once the Skyway 3 project starts.

Umali said the DepEd took into consideration the traffic rerouting scheme released by the MMDA and the locations where the road projects will be constructed in deciding which schools should consider implementing the four-day school week.

He also clarified that the four-day school week, once implemented in select schools, will not be effective for the entire school year 2015-2016.

“This will only be implemented as the need arises,” he said.

Umali said the DepEd will be taking steps to ensure students who will be affected by the shortened time for classes do not miss out on lessons.

CHED

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), meanwhile, said it will have to study the MMDA’s proposal first before deciding whether or not certain colleges and universities should also adopt the four-day school week.

CHED Planning Officer Ma. Teresa Puriran said the agency will have to consider the proposal will have on the laboratory period required for some classes.

“Hindi po madali sa aming mag-decide dahil sa contact hours na dapat allotted for laboratory classes. May equivalent po kasing contact hours yung units para sa laboratory classes kaya mahirap kung ire-reduce yung class days from five days to four days,” she said. — KBK, GMA News