Lawyer Says Private Schools May Not To Follow DepEd Calendar
PRIVATE SCHOOLS – Education lawyer Joseph Noel Estrada explained why the private schools may not follow the prescribed school calendar of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Recently, the Department of Education announced the new DepEd Christmas break through an order. Instead of having it on December 22, 2018, it was moved earlier to December 15, 2018.
The move of the Department is in line with the value it upholds for spending time with family. It also sees the season as an opportunity for the students to strengthen their emotional bond with their families.
The resumption of the classes following the Christmas break will be on January 2, 2018 and the last of classes in 2019 is on April 5.
The order of DepEd would surely be applied to all public elementary and secondary high schools. With regards to private schools, based on a report on Manila Bulletin, Atty. Estrada explained that they are allowed to make adjustments.
“Private schools may deviate from this school calendar,” the lawyer said referring to the school calendar for the school year 2018-2019.
Meanwhile, in cases of adjustments of their school calendar, the private schools are expected to inform DepEd in advance.
Certain instructions are also stated in orders from the Department like private schools may not start classes earlier than June’s first Monday and not later than August’s last day as mandated in RA No. 7797.
Based on the report, Atty. Estrada also cited that Section 12 of Batas Pambansa 232 or the Education Act of 1982 allows the school administrators to perform decisions “necessary for the efficient and effective performance of their functions”.
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