A party-list solon welcomed the decision of the government to to go back to the old academic calendar with classes starting in June and ending in March.

Kabataan Party-list Representative Raoul Manuel said this is long overdue and should be considered as well in higher education or in college.

“Ang tanong na lang po natin: Heatproof po ba ang college students? Sapat na ba na kapag lumala ang init, online class o distance learning na naman ang solusyon para sa college students? Kaya dapat i-review na rin ng CHED ang patakaran ng maraming pamantasan na simulan ang academic year nila nang Agosto o Setyembre,” Manuel said.

Manuel said the quality of education is not determined on changing the school calendar.

“Since UP began the trend in 2014 to move the calendar, sumunod na rin ang maraming pamantasan for the sake of being ‘internationally competitive’, pero gumanda ba ang kalidad ng edukasyon dahil sa calendar shift na to? Hindi pa yan napapatunayan. Sumabay lang tayo para sundin ang standards ng mga dayuhang pamantasan at kumpanya, pero napag-iiwanan naman ang sarili nating mga estudyante,” Manuel said.

“We reiterate that this colonial calendar shift never should have happened. It is cosmetic, unscientific and unnecessary. I-revert na rin natin ang college na sa June magsimula. At sa paparating muli na budget deliberations tiyakin natin ang sapat na pondo para tiyakin ang kalidad ng edukasyon,” he added.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas