Senator Win Gatchalian has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to prepare for a possible return of school opening in June after hearing the sentiments of various education stakeholders.
During the Senate committee hearing on basic education, Gatchalian said that the school calendar can now be adjusted without even reducing the number of school days per year.
“My recommendation to DepEd is that we now revert to the original academic calendar. But let’s do it gradually, maybe in one or two years, at most three. Let’s already start preparing the transition plan,” Gatchalian said.
The senator said that policymakers are having a hard time deciding whether students will be spared from the hazards of torrential rains or being forced to hold classes under the extreme heat during the summer.
“The weather alone—there are more issues of tropical cyclones, rains, very difficult to move around because of the rains. I think that the presentation of Pag-asa is telling us that it’s much more complicated for our learners to leave their homes when the rainy season arrives,” he added.
