Several sectors including lawmakers propose to move the opening of classes to September following last week’s suspension of classes in the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring provinces due to heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Dodong.
However, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the department will keep an open eye on the proposal.
“Pag-aaralan natin ito pero ang problema kasi with climate change pabago-bago na ang takbo ng klima baka naman pag nilipat natin sa September saka naman maulan. Siguro nung mga nakalipas na taon na may pattern pa ang weather pwede pa,” Luistro said in an interview, adding the DepEd would consult with all stakeholders on the issue.
Supporters of the move such as the Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (Fapsa), which counted 1,600 members in Metro Manila alone, argued that the rainy season, which starts on the month of June, largely affects the number of school days, noting that because of cancellations as much as 25 to 30 days are subtracted from the calendar, as recorded in the previous years.
Fapsa President Eleazardo Kasilag said these cancellations would have not happened if classes start on the later part of the year.
Kasilag also cited that the summer months have changed due to the looming climate change and it is not as hot and dry as before.
Likewise, he stressed it would lessen confusion among students and parents as well as avoid mudslinging among the DepEd, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and local officials who pin the blame on each other when suspension of classes gone awry.
Kasilag said if the September opening of classes is out of the question, then the DepEd can hold the opening of classes on August.
Currently, he said the Philippines and Brunei are the only countries in the Asia-Pacific region that open their regular classes in June.
Malaysia and Singapore open their classes in January, February in China, March in South Korea, April in Japan and India, May in Thailand, July in Indonesia and September in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the ACT Teachers Party-list group said a September opening of classes would pose more problems for students since they will have to go to class during the summer months of April and May to ensure they will be able to comply with the mandated 202 school days.
“Hindi conducive sa pag-aaral ng mga bata ang summer months dahil nakapakainit at alam naman natin na an gating mga public schools maliban sa overcrowded ay wala namang air-conditioning system,” ACT party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said.
Tinio said only a small portion of the country were affected by flooding due to heavy rains during typhoons and other weather disturbances while the summer heat affected the entire country.
“Usually ang apektado ng pagbaha ay ang Meto Manila at ilang bahagi ng Gitnang Luzon hindi naman ito nationwide kung ikukumpara sa init ng summer,” he said, adding that instead of moving the opening of classes, it would do well for the government to instead put their focus on addressing the problem of infrastructures such as roadways and the antiquated drainage in the metropolis, which are usually clogged during heavy downpour.
Last year, Senator Franklin Drilon filed Senate Bill 2407 seeking to move the opening of classes to September, saying that the June opening results in inconvenience to students, parents and even teachers.
A similar bill (Senate Bill 565) was filed by then Senate President Manuel Villar but failed to get the support of majority of the lawmakers. (AH/Sunnex)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/06/12/moving-classes-september-not-best-option-160753
Movers Simi Valley
Movers Delray Beach
Movers Benicia
Movers West Park
Moving classes to September might not be the optimal decision. Is Snake Arcade It disrupts the established academic calendar and may inconvenience students and educators.
ReplyDelete