Win Gatchalian: Reverting to old school calendar upholds safety, well-being of learners, teachers

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday lauded the Department of Education (DepEd) for heeding his call to revert to the old school calendar.

The chairman of the Senate committee on basic education issued the statement a day after DepEd announced that the school year 2023-2024 will end earlier than scheduled to gradually shift back to the old school calendar with April-May as the summer vacation.

"I fully support the Department of Education’s (DepEd) move to shift the closing of the current academic year from June 14, 2024 to May 31, 2024. This is a significant step to revert to the old school calendar, which opens in June and ends by March or April," Gatchalian said in a statement.

"Reverting to the old school calendar will help uphold the safety and well-being of both our teachers and learners. I thank the DepEd for heeding the call of our teachers, learners, and relevant stakeholders in returning to the old school calendar," he added.

The lawmaker cited a Pulse Asia survey that he commissioned in June 2023 which indicated that eight out of 10 Filipinos are in favor of bringing back students’ summer vacation to April and May.

He likewise noted the statement of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) at a Senate basic education hearing last August 2023 that the current school calendar coincides with fewer days of extreme rainfall and less cancellation of classes due to tropical cyclones.

However, the current school calendar also has more school days with extremely hot temperatures.

It was in March last year when Gatchalian said it is high time to bring back the April to May summer vacation.

Last Congress, the senator led the passage of Republic Act 11480 which allowed the Department of Education to move the opening of School Year 2020 to 2021 to October 5, 2020 amid the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RA 11480 amended Section 3 of Republic No. 7797, which provides that the school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August. Republic Act No. 7797 also lengthened the school calendar from 200 days to not more than 220 days.

Under RA 11480, the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education, may set a different date for the start of the school year in parts of or throughout the whole country in the event of a declaration of a state of emergency or state of calamity.—AOL, GMA Integrated News