DepEd exec: Elementary, high schools not yet moving class opening to Sept.

Young students can still look forward to summer fiestas and family bonding free from schoolwork. 

 

Elementary and secondary schools in the country are not expected to follow some Philippine universities in shifting their school calendars, a Department of Education (DepEd) official said Monday.

 

"Dahil matagal nang ang pasukan ay Hunyo, kung ililipat ay dahil sa tamang dahilan," DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali said in an interview on GMA News TV's "News To Go." 

 

Umali added the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has not yet notified the DepEd of any changes to the academic calendar of college and universities.

 

"Kung iyan ang mangyayari sa ating mga kolehiyo at unibersidad, baka kailangan sumunod ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon," the DepEd official said.

 

Several universities in the country have already expressed intention to gradually shift the start of their academic calendars to September to be in sync with their foreign counterparts.

 

But Umali said that based on a survey conducted by the agency in 2009, most parents still want classes to open in June to be able to spend "quality time" with their children.

 

"Three out of 16 regions are the only ones in favor: Regions 3, 6 and 9. Gusto nila [parents] quality bonding time. Tayo po ang Abril, Mayo, iyan ang summer. Mahal na Araw, lumalabas ang pamilya, pati Santacruzan," he said.

 

He added that a change in the academic calendar will need approval from Congress.

 

"Kung iyan man po ay mangyayari, at kung Setyembre po ang iniisip natin, kailangan pong maamyendahan ang batas dahil ang batas po ang nagsasabi na may pahintulot po ang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon na bigyan ng pahintulot ang mga paaralan na magbukas, earliest first Monday of June, latest last week of August," Umali said.

 

No immediate reason

 

At a press briefing on Sunday, Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office likewise said that DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro himself sees no immediate reason to change the current academic calendar.

 

"Ayon kay Kalihim ng Edukasyon Bro. Armin Luistro, sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang nakikitang agarang dahilan sa pagpapalit ng kalendaryo ng DepEd," Coloma said during the briefing aired over state-run dzRB radio.

 

Coloma said that at present, other Southeast Asian countries do not have a uniform schedule of school opening. He added that a shift in the academic calendar will not directly address problems school children face due to climate change.

 

"Ang pagpapalit ng kalendaryo ay hindi tuwirang tutugon sa mga problema ng pagbagyo at pagbaha dahil sa pagbabagong klima o climate change. Maaaring magkaroon ng negatibong epekto sa pag-aaral sa panahon ng pinakamainit na klima sa mga buwan ng Abril at Mayo," the Palace official said.

 

He said, however, that Malacañang is open to studying proposals to change the academic calendar in line with the integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.

 

"Layunin din ng panukalang ito ang pagtugon ng ating bansa sa panawagang bigyang-daan ang ASEAN mobility, o ang malayang paglalakbay ng mga mamamayan sa bansang ASEAN upang mag-aral sa mga paaralang may internasyonal na orientasyon, at upang magamit ang kanilang mga kakayahan o talento sa iba’t ibang larangang propesyonal," Coloma said. — with Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News