FILE PHOTO: Students and teachers at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City conduct a dry run of face-to-face class in this photo taken on February 8, 2022, to familiarize the students with the new rules in the conduct of classroom learning in the time of the pandemic. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — A Pulse Asia survey showed that 80 percent of Filipinos favor returning the school “summer break” to April and May.
Senator Win Gatchalian revealed the survey result on Tuesday as he repeated his previous calls for the national government to revert to the old-school calendar.
Gatchalian’s poll asked 1,200 adult respondents nationwide from June 19-23 whether they approve of reverting the school summer break to April and May.
READ: Gatchalian says time to bring back April-May school ‘summer’ break
A total of 80 percent agreed, while 8 percent disagreed, and 11 percent were uncertain of what to answer.
Citing the Pulse Asia survey, Gatchalian said a majority of respondents in Metro Manila (81 percent), Visayas (73 percent), and Mindanao (86 percent) are in favor of returning the school summer break to April and May. In terms of socioeconomic groups, the proposition is “strong” among respondents within classes ABC (83 percent), D (81 percent), and E (75 percent), the senator added.
Gatchalian, who also chairs the Senate committee on basic education, welcomed the survey result.
“Malinaw ang boses ng ating mga kababayan na nais nilang ibalik ang bakasyon ng mga mag-aaral sa buwan ng Abril at Mayo. Bagama’t hindi magiging madali ang pagbabalik ng dating school calendar, magsasagawa tayo ng pagdinig upang pag-aralan nang husto ang mga hakbang para itaguyod ang kapakanan ng ating mga guro at mga mag-aaral,” he said in a statement.
READ: DepEd studies proposal to revert to old school calendar
(The voice of our fellow countrymen is clear that they want to bring back the students’ vacation in April and May. Although the return of the old school calendar will not be easy, we will hold a hearing to thoroughly study measures to promote the welfare of our teachers and students.)
Previously, the lawmaker pointed out that implementing the return of the school summer break to April and May does not need a law.
READ: Crafting a law to revert to old school calendar no longer needed – Gatchalian
The country’s old school calendar was modified at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as education institutions chose to apply the distance learning mode for the safety of teachers and students.
School Year (SY) 2021-2022 started in September 2021, according to DepEd, while SY 2022-2023 began in August 2022.