To protect learners from the effects of extreme heat, Senator Win Gatchalian favors the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposal for an aggressive reversion to the old school calendar, which will move back the opening of classes in June.
Considering the clamor for a faster transition back to the old school calendar, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations Cesar Bringas said in a Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing that the DepEd proposed other options to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., including a more aggressive alternative ending of School Year 2024-2025 in March 2025.
“In my opinion, let us take the aggressive approach because we cannot predict things. Next year, there will be El Niño and La Niña again, it’s very difficult, and the weather is hard to predict. But what is certain is we already need to revert to the old calendar so that no matter what happens, we are already avoiding extreme heat conditions,” Gatchalian said.
After consultations with stakeholders, the DepEd moved the end of School Year 2023-2024 to May 31. The end of SY 2024-2025 was scheduled for May 16, 2025, while SY 2025-2026 was set to end on April 16, 2026. The reversion process was set to be completed by SY 2026-2027, where classes are set to begin in mid-June 2026 and end in March 2027.
To implement the aggressive transition, DepEd eyes conducting fewer days of in-person classes, while some days, including Saturdays, will be devoted to the use of Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) such as online, modular, and blended learning. Bringas also pointed out that the aggressive reversion to the old school calendar will affect learners’ and teachers’ vacations.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said in the same hearing that while the current academic calendar has fewer school days coinciding with the rainy season and reduced cancellation of classes due to tropical cyclones, it also has more school days with extremely hot temperature.