DepEd issues memo for next school year

The Department of Education has issued a memorandum circular outlining guidelines for schools for the incoming school year which starts in June.

DepEd officer-in-charge Fe Hidalgo, in an order, said that the dates given in the school calendar would be compulsory for public elementary and secondary schools.

"The private schools may deviate from this school calendar, provided that they do not start classes earlier that the 1st Monday of June 2006. However, they need to complete the minimum number of class days and notify the Department of education in advance," Hidalgo said.

The school year will open on June 5 and will end on March 30, 2007.

The opening of the school year will be preceded by the National Schools Maintenance Week, which is scheduled from May 15 to 20, to enable communities and schools to prepare for the classes.

Christmas break will begin on December 23 and classes will resume on January 3, 2007.

The secondary school summer classes will begin on Monday, April 16, 2007, and will end on May 26, 2007 with a daily three-hour session per subject from Monday to Saturday for 35 days.

"The observance of school celebrations or activities and holidays other than those indicated in the calendar will be allowed provided that the minimum number of class hours and class days is maintained," Hidalgo said.

She added that schools would observe 206 class days inclusive of the five-day break for the midyear assessment and the parent-teacher conference that will be held Saturday immediately following the week after the administration of quarterly examinations.

Should schools cancel classes for localized suspensions like typhoons and other calamities or local celebrations such as fiesta, Hidalgo said they would conduct makeup classes to compensate with the missed days. - Jasmin R. Uy