PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved to revert to the old school calendar.

The Presidential Communications Office said in a statement that the opening of classes will start on July 29, 2024 and will end on April 15, 2025..

Marcos made the decision in response to public concerns on the schedule of classes to start reverting the country’s school calendar to the traditional arrangement.

“This will start the gradual return of the school year to June of every year until end of March the next year,” the PCO said.

Marcos had a sectoral meeting with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.

The Vice President presented two options to the President for the school calendar shift.

The first option comprised of 180 school days with 15 in-person Saturday classes while the second option was to have 165 school days with no in-person Saturday classes. Both options will end the SY on March 31, 2025

But the President said the 165-day school calendar is “too short” as such arrangement will significantly reduce the number of school days and contact time that may compromise learning outcomes.

He also did not want students to be going to school on Saturdays to complete the 180-day school calendar because it will jeopardize their well-being and demand more resources.

“Habaan lang natin ‘yung school days. Para matagal, dagdagan na lang natin ‘yung school days basta huwag natin gagalawin ‘yung Saturday . So, school day will remain the same. Standard lang,” Marcos said.

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Chona Yu