DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / February 25) – Parents here are worried over the announcement of an earlier end of classes this schoolyear – May 31 instead of June 14 – citing days of missed classes due to heavy rains brought about by the shear line and trough of a low pressure area.
Bebang Miloy, 37, mother of a 15-year old son studying at the Francisco Bustamante National High School (FBNHS) in Barangay Tibungco said her son, who is in Grade 8, had no classes for almost two weeks, due to a fire in one of the school buildings on January 14, heavy rains brought by shear line from January 16 to 19, and heavy rains brought by trough of low pressure area on January 31 to February 1.
Miloy also lamented that their house is easily flooded during rainy days, making it difficult for her son to go to school.
In Cebuano, she told MindaNews “it is so difficult because classes are always suspended so learning becomes difficult for the children.” She said the second grading exam is coming soon “but what have the children learned?”
In preparation for the eventual return to the June to March schoolyear instead of the current August to May, the Department of Education issued Order 003 signed by Education Secretary Sara Duterte on February 19, 2024, resetting the end of schoolyear 2023 – 2024 to May 31 instead of June 14 and rescheduling schoolyear 2024 – 2025 to begin on July 29 and end on May 16, 2025.
This year’s school break will be from June 1 to July 28 instead of the previously scheduled June 17 to August 25.
In Manila, DepEd Spokesperson and Undersecretary Michael Poa explained to reporters on Tuesday that they aim to return to a June to March academic calendar by schoolyear 2026 to 2027 with the summer break back to April and May by 2027.
For Miloy’s neighbor, Terry Jimlani, 44, the DepEd’s order to end the current school year on May 31 is a “good, gradual move” because the weather during April and May is hot and humid. She recalled how her youngest son was brought to the school clinic when he fainted during one of his Physical Education (PE) classes.
Jimlani said the El Niño situation has made the heat even more unbearable. She said it was good her son brought drinking water because “wala ra ba siya’y insurance og magkaniunsa” (he has no medical insurance, in case.”
For calamity-induced class suspensions, DepEd 11 spokesperson Jenielito Atillo explained the suspension is for in-person classes but online classes must continue if there is an internet signal. He said classes will continue using the alternative and flexible modalities such as modular, online, radio and television.
He said learning camps every Friday can be the catch-up for missed classes. “Rest assured that even though we have the new schedule now, education will not be shortchanged and learners will receive what is appropriate for them in respect with the teaching learning process,” Atillo said. (Ian Carl Espinosa/MindaNews)
