Gatchalian says time to bring back April-May school ‘summer’ break

FILE PHOTO: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines—  It’s time to move the school “summer” break back to April and  May.

This is according to Senator Sherwin  Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on basic education, following reports of students being hospitalized after participating in the fire and earthquake drills in a school in Laguna.

Gatchalian said he was surprised upon hearing the news, noting that the Department of Education is very strict when it comes to protocols on activities like fire and earthquake drills.

“Of course, ‘yung mga principals natin binibigyan din natin sila ng laya para gumawa ng mga ganitong pagsasanay pero meron silang sinusundan na proseso. So nagulat lang ako na nangyari ‘yan,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

(Of course, we give our principals the freedom to conduct such training, but they have a process to follow. So, I was just surprised that it happened.)

READ: 120 students hospitalized after fire, earthquake drills in Cabuyao City

He called on school principals to strictly follow the rules and not to put students in danger.

Later asked if there is a need to return to the old school calendar, Gatchalian quickly answered yes.

“Yes, I agree with you, kailangan ibalik ‘yan sa dati (that needs to be returned to before),” he said, explaining the reasons why the school vacation was previously set in April to May.

He pointed out that elections are always held around April to May, which was also deemed as the best time for students to go out and spend time with their families “as opposed to the rainy season.”

READ: Duterte signs law on rescheduling opening of classes amid calamities

“So mas maganda na ibalik natin sa dating April-May ang summer vacation,” Gatchalian said.

(So it would be better to move the summer vacation back to its original schedule in April-May.)

The senator also mentioned that the school calendar was only adjusted from the previous June to March to the current August to July due the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But it’s time to bring it back especially now that it’s normal already,” according to the senator.

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