Public school Yule break starts

MANILA, Philippines — The Christmas break for public school students will begin this weekend, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

The school calendar for the current academic year sets the Christmas break from Dec. 15 to Jan. 5 next year. As in previous years, Dec. 14, a Saturday, will remain a class day intended for school activities such as Christmas-related events as agreed upon by school officials and parents.

Classes will resume on the first Monday of 2020 or on Jan. 6.

Like last year, the DepEd has given public school students more time to spend their holidays with their families this year. It moved the start of Christmas break in 2018 from Dec. 22 to Dec. 15 after President Duterte advised the agency to look at the policy for Christmas holidays for the students.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones at the time said that the longer break would allow the students to have more time with their families, giving them the opportunity to bond especially with those visiting from abroad.

Under DepEd rules, private schools are allowed to have their own school calendar provided that they comply with the minimum number of contact days per school year.