President Bongbong Marcos Wants Old School Calendar Back Next Year

OLD SCHOOL CALENDAR – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants the old school calendar back by next year.

The Department of Education (DepEd) suggests that going back to the old school calendar will be advantageous for both teachers and students. This recommendation aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent remarks, expressing the government’s desire to hasten the return to the previous school calendar.

Based on a report from Philstar, an official from the DepEd has stated that the agency will adhere to President Marcos’ choice to return to the previous school calendar by next year.

“In our letter to the (Office of the President) regarding the DepEd’s proposal for reversion to the June-to-March school year (SY), we had already stated that we commit to abide by the President’s decision on the matter,” DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas told reporters yesterday.

To prevent class cancellations caused by intense heat, the President aims for the nation to swiftly return to the previous school calendar, running from June to March.

Bringas mentioned their prior proposal to Marcos, advocating for ending the 2024-2025 school year in March 2025 and commencing the subsequent academic year in June of the same year. However, DepEd cannot provide detailed plans for the rapid transition yet, as Marcos is still reviewing the options presented to him.

According to the new strategy devised by DepEd’s Bureau of Learning Delivery, schools would only have 165 days of in-person classes, falling short of the 180 to 220 days mandated by law. To prevent students from falling behind in learning, DepEd might have to consider holding alternative delivery mode classes on weekends.

Additionally, DepEd previously mentioned the possibility of shortening the end-of-school break as the academic year would conclude by March 31, 2025, and commence again in June of the same year.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) welcomed BBM’s announcement regarding the shift but urged him to take decisive action to address shortages in the education sector and confront the climate crisis as part of more comprehensive measures beyond merely adjusting the calendar.

Several organizations have been urging for a swift reversion to the previous school calendar, pointing out the intense heat students endure in March and April. Lawmakers have also joined in, proposing changes to return to the old calendar, emphasizing that the current August to June school calendar is unsuitable for the country.