Wednesday, Jan 08, 2014

Manila: The Philippines government’s education department has allayed fears over planned changes to the school calendar, saying there is no need for parents to worry as any modification would not be taking place within the year.

“There is no compelling reason to push for the changes, although the Department of Education (DepEd) is not closed to the idea,” Secretary Brother Armin Luistro said in reaction to plans to move the start of the country’s school year from the current June, to August or September.

“We are open to suggestions but for now, it’s still June to look forward to,” he said.

The presidential palace had earlier said the government was reviewing proposals to make changes to the school calendar, to synchronise it with those of other countries and make it less difficult for students, especially those in Metro Manila, who had to bear with the challenges of going to school during months when heavy rains and floods typically occur.

Palace deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte however, clarified the decision on the matter would largely based on the recommendations of the education department.

There had been proposals to move the opening of the school year from June to August or September and reports said that at least four major universities were preparing for this shift in the calendar.

However, the changes planned for implementation so far concern tertiary education. There is nothing final yet on whether modifications would be made cover the basic education (preschool, elementary and high school) level.

Luistro, said that in the meantime, more pressing concerns other than modifying the school calendar were “building more classrooms, hiring more teachers, reviewing the standard of courses offered, particularly in science and mathematics and more educational equipment such as computers and learning aids nationwide.”

Education Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo had said the September opening proposal had been pushed by the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle University, and the University of Santo Tomas in preparation for joining the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) education calendar for 2015.

While tertiary institutions (colleges and universities) are very much open to modifying their calendars, it is a totally different story with regards to the basic education level.

Mateo cited a 2009 DepEd survey which revealed that most parents are opposed to a September school opening.

He likewise pointed out that the voices calling for change in the school opening month were mostly from Metro Manila.

“We often think of the floods in Metro Manila, but it is not so in the provinces,” Mateo said.

He also added that moving from June to September may mean students would have to study in classrooms that are not only overcrowded, but are also unbearably hot, since the learning period would extend until the hot months of March or April.

Senator Pia Cayetano, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture said that, while she agrees that there are benefits by synching the country’s school calendar with that of the ASEAN bloc, “We should keep in mind that our basic education system is still in the midst of transition into the K-12 [Kinder plus 12 years basic education] programme, which was introduced just this school year. Rushing any new changes would entail more adjustments and could have repercussions. But if it will benefit us in the long run and we can properly make the transition, then I will support it.”

By Gilbert P. ?Felongco ?Correspondent

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