The Department of Education (DepEd) assured House members that they will be immediately apprised once the Office of the President (OP) decides on DepEd’s proposal to revert public schools to the old academic calendar.
Dr. Leila Areola, Director IV of the DepEd Bureau of Learning Delivery, made the commitment before the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, chaired by Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo.
The panel had an oversight hearing recently to discuss several issues, including the proposed timetable for the opening of classes for school year 2024-2025 and beyond, as well as the challenges on the implementation of the school calendar.
“From the original five-year period for the gradual shift, and due to the recent clamor also, we have to speed up (the shift).”
“DepEd is really working on the gradual shift of the school calendar to the pre-pandemic school calendar. From the original five-year period for the gradual shift, and due to the recent clamor also, we have to speed up (the shift). We tried to look for options, and as of now it’s down to two years. We have submitted options to the Office of the President and should we have their statement already, we will discuss it with the OP, then the DepEd will apprise this committee,” Areola stressed.
Romulo said that during the committee’s last hearing on the matter, many House members did not agree on the five-year plan for the shift.
“Ang gusto talaga ng lahat bumalik na sa old calendar sa dami nating naririnig na problema dala ng kainitan ng panahon,” the veteran legislator said.
A readoption of the old school calendar would mean that vacation of students would again be during the summer months of April and May, the seasoned lawmaker noted.
“Ayaw po natin ng online, ayaw natin ng asynchronous or whatever, gusto natin, doon tayo sa face-to- face makabalik.”
“Alam ng lahat face-to-face (classes) ang pinaka-importante, ayaw po natin ng online, ayaw natin ng asynchronous or whatever, gusto natin, doon tayo sa face-to- face makabalik,” he stressed.
Romulo said the DepEd will submit to the panel a report once it gets word from Malacañang on the matter.
“The direction now is to revert to the old academic calendar within two years, starting year one, which is now,” he said.
Lawmakers also asked if graduation day next year will be before, during or after the May 12, 2025 national elections.
ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro asked if graduation day next year will be before, during or after the May 12, 2025 national elections.
The veteran legislator noted that school year 2024-2025 will end on May 16, 2025, based on DepEd Memorandum No. 3, s. 2024-2025, and urged DepEd to also consider that teachers have poll duty when deciding on the date of students’ graduation.
ACT Philippines national chairperson Vlademeir Quetua, Teachers Dignity Coalition president Benjo Basas, Philippine Elementary Principals Association treasurer Noel Gelua, and National Parent Teacher Association national president Willy Rodriguez all expressed support for an immediate return to the old school calendar within two years instead of five years.
