The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) agreed with the Department of Education's (DepEd) plan to revert the old June to March school calendar.
TDC National Chairman Benjo Basas told DZRH in an interview on Friday, January 19, that a transition to the old academic calendar was needed to prevent a drastic change to stakeholders.
“Ang plano ng DepEd ay ibalik na sa old cycle na yung klase ay magsisimula ng June at magtatapos ng March pero siyempre, may transition 'yan at hindi naman pwedeng drastic,” he said.
Basas explained that the August to June calendar was spurred by lockdowns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“[H]indi naman talaga natin ginustong baguhin, hindi naman natin ginustong ilagay sa Agosto [ang simula ng klase]. In fact, noong 2020, October na nagbukas at September naman noong 2021, tapos ngayong 2022 and 2023 ay August,” he said.
“Hindi naman ito ginusto kaya lang dumanas tayo ng pandemic, nagkaroon tayo ng mga lockdown. Hindi naman ito ang system na ating ginagamit. Ito ay bilang tugon lang sa pandemya,” he added.
The TDC national chair shared that the shift from August to June school calendar prevents students from enjoying festivities and puts them in a position where heat index forecasts hit danger levels during April and May.
“Traditionally, talagang April at May ang panahon ng bakasyon. Panahon din ng festivities, Palarong Pambansa, ibig sabihin kung ito ay covered ng school year natin, mas malaki ang intervention,” Basas said.
“Malaki ang abala na magagawa [sa] festivities, traditions, even official function ng DepEd at iba pa. Pinakamalaking dahilan, yung sobrang init. Nakita natin na ang daming batang nahimatay noong panahon ng Abril at Mayo,” he added.
Basas shared that the transition to old school calendar would begin this academic year following an agreement with DepEd.
“This school year, part na ito ng transition. May draft na ng amended memorandum order ang DepEd na tatapusin ng May 31. Everybody agreed, walang tumutol,” the TDC chief said.
“Beginning April 1, bakasyon na ang mga paaralan Tapos na ang pasok. Magtatapos ang bakasyon sa July 28 sa taong ito. Sa susunod na SY, sa July 29 na ang start ng klase,” he added.
