MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that basic education level in public schools will continue with its June 3 school opening.
Education secretary Leonor Briones confirmed that the school calendar for Academic Year 2019-2020 has already been approved and they have no plans of shifting their school calendar.
Briones said, “We already have our school calendar as approved by the Execom [Executive Committee] and we will be releasing it by next week.”
UPDATE: DepEd releases school calendar for SY 2019-2020
This came after the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) recommendation that all state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) should begin their classes in August starting this year.
SEE ALSO: DepEd warns against posting of learner’s information on social media
Briones added that such shift is difficult to implement because their population is much bigger compared with the higher education level. She said that adjustments are difficult to make because they have over 23 million learners from Kinder to secondary level in public schools alone.
The education secretary gave three reasons why the basic education level refuses to shift their Academic Year opening to August.
According to Briones, the reasons are “school facilities, health, and other activities scheduled during the dry season commonly known as “summer.””
Briones fears that since their students are relatively younger, they might not be able to endure going to school during the hot summer months.
She also mentioned that the facilities available in public schools can only do so much against warm weather.
Briones said, “This is not to say that we have dilapidated buildings, in fact, we have many new school buildings but these are just one-story buildings and they don’t have air conditioning (units).”
Briones added that the students’ health might be compromised when they are forced to face the hot summer days.
“Young kids are more prone to childhood diseases, especially those that are common during hotter months like sore eyes, dengue, measles – among others,” she said.
“We might not be able to guarantee the overall health of these learners,” Briones added.
The DepEd head also admitted that it's hard to break the tradition of summer break and vacation from parents, students and even teachers.
She said, “Parents look forward to being with their children during the break. Teachers, she added, also look forward to the activities during this period.”
“That’s the time that they are also able to relax and attend to their personal interests,” Briones noted.
Just like CHED chairman J. Prospero E. de Vera III, Secretary Briones also doesn't see any problems with differing school calendars in their levels. Briones said that the parents and students might actually appreciate the longer vacation before starting college.
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| DepEd secretary Leonor Briones to retain June 3 school opening for upcoming academic year. |
Education secretary Leonor Briones confirmed that the school calendar for Academic Year 2019-2020 has already been approved and they have no plans of shifting their school calendar.
Briones said, “We already have our school calendar as approved by the Execom [Executive Committee] and we will be releasing it by next week.”
UPDATE: DepEd releases school calendar for SY 2019-2020
This came after the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) recommendation that all state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) should begin their classes in August starting this year.
SEE ALSO: DepEd warns against posting of learner’s information on social media
Briones added that such shift is difficult to implement because their population is much bigger compared with the higher education level. She said that adjustments are difficult to make because they have over 23 million learners from Kinder to secondary level in public schools alone.
The education secretary gave three reasons why the basic education level refuses to shift their Academic Year opening to August.
According to Briones, the reasons are “school facilities, health, and other activities scheduled during the dry season commonly known as “summer.””
Briones fears that since their students are relatively younger, they might not be able to endure going to school during the hot summer months.
She also mentioned that the facilities available in public schools can only do so much against warm weather.
Briones said, “This is not to say that we have dilapidated buildings, in fact, we have many new school buildings but these are just one-story buildings and they don’t have air conditioning (units).”
Briones added that the students’ health might be compromised when they are forced to face the hot summer days.
“Young kids are more prone to childhood diseases, especially those that are common during hotter months like sore eyes, dengue, measles – among others,” she said.
“We might not be able to guarantee the overall health of these learners,” Briones added.
The DepEd head also admitted that it's hard to break the tradition of summer break and vacation from parents, students and even teachers.
She said, “Parents look forward to being with their children during the break. Teachers, she added, also look forward to the activities during this period.”
“That’s the time that they are also able to relax and attend to their personal interests,” Briones noted.
Just like CHED chairman J. Prospero E. de Vera III, Secretary Briones also doesn't see any problems with differing school calendars in their levels. Briones said that the parents and students might actually appreciate the longer vacation before starting college.
— Sally, The Summit Express
