Marcos Approves Return Of Old June-to-March Schedule Starting Next School Year
MARCOS – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has endorsed the gradual transition of the nation’s school calendar back to the traditional June-to-March schedule beginning in the upcoming academic year.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has given the go-ahead for a gradual transition of the country’s school calendar back to the traditional June-to-March schedule, starting from the upcoming academic year, citing “public concerns.” Based on a report from Inquier, this decision has garnered widespread praise from educators and stakeholders in the education sector.
For the academic year 2024-2025, classes will commence on July 29, 2024, and conclude on April 15, 2025. Additionally, Saturday in-person classes will be discontinued, as announced by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Bongbong Marcos conferred with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Tuesday, where they discussed the feedback from teachers and students regarding the current calendar. Concerns primarily revolved around exposure to extreme heat during the dry season, exacerbated by the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.
“Let us just add to the number of school days without touching Saturdays, so school days will remain the same,” PBBM told Duterte during the meeting.
In a social media update on Wednesday, the Office of the President announced that the choice to revert to the previous school year format was motivated by a desire to prioritize the quality of education and the welfare of both students and educators.
This policy will be enforced in public schools, although private institutions have the option to adopt the revised timetable.
The President underscored the importance of upholding 182 school days without scheduling classes on Saturdays, highlighting this as a dedication to enhancing educational achievements and ensuring a consistent academic calendar.
The PCO stated that the upcoming academic year’s class schedule “will mark the gradual transition of the school year to commence in June of each year and conclude at the end of March the following year.”
During her meeting with the President, Duterte presented two proposals for adjusting the school year. Both proposals aimed to end the academic year on March 31, 2025: one with 182 school days including 15 in-person Saturday classes, and the other with 167 school days without Saturday classes.
Duterte mentioned that the Department of Education (DepEd) consulted with teachers, school administrators, and parents regarding the proposed change in the school calendar, especially considering health concerns related to high temperatures.
However, Marcos dismissed both options and opted for a middle-ground approach.
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