Old school calendar
THE snowballing move to return to the old school calendar in the Philippines has been gaining more and more adherrents in the House of Representatives.
Before the paralyzing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the school calendar used to open in June, with a two-month summer vacation in April and May.
House Bill (HB) No. 8508, authored by Ilocos Sur 1st District Rep. Ronald Singson, sets the first Monday of June of every year as the start of the academic year.
In filing the bill, Singson said that more than overhauling and revising the current school curriculum, other vital and pressing issues should also be considered.
Note that the two-year COVID-19 pandemic, which killed millions of people across the globe, including impoverished Philippines, led to the change in the school calendar.
We share the view of Singson that the lifting of the restrictions and the full implementation of face-to-face classes should prompt the government to return to the old calendar.
And we agree with the Ilocano congressman that the extreme heat experienced by the people, especially students and teachers, last summer was not conducive to learning.
In fact, earlier this year, more than 100 high school students in Cabuyao, Laguna were hospitalized due to dehydration after the heat index reached 42 degrees celsius in the area.
“Hanggang ngayon nga, kahit panahon na ng tag-ulan, sobrang init pa rin ang nararamdaman sa maraming parte ng bansa bunga ng lumalalang climate change,” a parent said.
Those seeking the return to the old academic calendar in public and private schools demonstrated anew their capacity to uphold the interest of our students, teachers and parents.
