The Department of Education (DepEd) has no final position yet on the proposal to return to the pre-pandemic school calendar, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said on Wednesday.
Interviewed during DZRH Damdaming Bayan, Poa said they still determining if the school calendar will be reversed.
"Dahil noong panahon na April [at] May ang ating bakasyon, napakarami pong panukala na palitan ang ating school calendar dahil bumabagyo naman pagdating ng June, July, at August kaya nalalagay sa peligro ang ating mag-aaral," he said.
The DepEd Spox said they are closely coordinating with the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
But he noted that the transition to the old-school calendar may take a few years.
"Kung gagawin natin kaagad ay mawawalan naman ng bakasyon ang mga learners pati na rin mga teachers. Talagang mawawalan sila ng bakasyon and sympre, we have to consider that. That's why it will have to be a slow transition," Poa added.
The DepEd spokesperson assured that once the education department has a final position on the matter, this will be immediately announced to the public.
Last Monday, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. said the government is already looking into the proposal.
He noted that since there is no lockdown in effect and most schools are implementing face-to-face classes, it may be time to revert to the pre-pandemic school calendar.
Senator Sherwin 'Win' Gatchalian, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, first floated the idea of bringing back the original academic calendar following a heat exhaustion incident in two high schools in Cabuyao City, Laguna.
DepEd earlier issued a memorandum reminding all private and public school heads that they can suspend face-to-person classes and implement modular distance learning amid the extreme heat and threats of power outages during this Summer season.
