An early Christmas gift greeted students of schools under the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday.
The DepEd announced a 19-day holiday break for students of public schools, which was originally set for Dec. 22 but was moved a week earlier to Dec. 15.
The resumption of classes in public elementary and high schools on Jan. 2, 2019, and the end of the school year on April 5 were left unchanged by the order.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the early break would allow more family time and spare children from holiday traffic.
Briones instructed teachers to refrain from assigning homework during the break or extending class hours next year, even though these may be tempting ways to cope with the loss of teaching days.
‘Sharper discussions’
Instead of longer hours, educators should facilitate “sharper discussions,” she said at a press conference.
“Anything to do with formal learning has to be implemented on the school premises [before the break],” she added.
Briones said students should be allowed to enjoy more informal learning from parents, family and friends during the holidays, unburdened by schoolwork.
“We are discouraging the practice of tough homework, which the grandmother and mothers and ‘yayas’ have to struggle with,” the secretary said.