Senators seek review of school calendar adjustment

MANILA, Philippines—Senators are urging the Department of Education to expedite its evaluation whether to reset the school opening from June to September.

The suggestion, often raised during typhoon season, was again revived in Monday’s hearing of the DepEd 2012 budget after lawmakers complained that strong typhoons cause the suspension of classes in the elementary and high school levels.

“Many instances of school disruption during the second half of the year happen because of the rains, so we are asking the DepEd to see whether adjustments can be made,” Senator Franklin Drilon explained.

“Especially here in Metro Manila, which is complicated by transportation problems during the floods, we hope the study will result in something more concrete. As it is, all indications lead to a need to revise the school calendar for the benefit of everyone,” Drilon added.

Sens. Loren Legarda and Edgardo Angara noted that climate change is responsible for stronger typhoons that cause more damage than ever.

Aside from class suspensions, stronger typhoons also lead to the destruction of school buildings, they also observed.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the department’s study on the matter confirms common observation that there are more typhoons from June to September compared with the period between January to May.

Although the DepEd study would be completed in two months, he said any recommendation, if concretized into law, would be applicable in school year 2013-14.

As it is, there is a law that needs to be amended in case the school opening has to be reset to September, Luistro added.

Drilon said senators would readily pass a bill if legislation is required to reset the school opening to September.