CEBU, Philippines - The opening of classes this year in public schools, both elementary and high school, will be starting late.
According to the order recently issued by the Department of Education, school year 2016 to 2017 will begin on June 13, as compared to the previous years, which usually started on the first week.
This is to give time to the teachers to prepare well considering their role during the election and their trainings for the K to 12 program.
“Instead of having vacation, they (teachers) have been working. We have ongoing trainings for teachers and we also have our May elections. Now, we will be giving them ample time to get ready for the next school year,” said DepEd-7 Director Juliet Jeruta, in a phone interview yesterday.
In the school year 2015-2016, classes began on June 1 while in 2014 and 2013, classes started on June 2 and June 3, respectively.
“For two weeks before school classes start, they (teachers) can have more time to prepare especially that this year will be the start of the Senior High School program,” said Jeruta.
DepEd-7, together with the schools division office and public schools, have been focusing on the implementation of the K to 12 Program, particularly the additional two years in high school – Grade 11 and 12 (Senior High School).
Other important matters considered in the shift include the construction of additional classrooms; hiring of SHS teachers; training of teachers for the new curriculum; and procurement for new instructional materials and equipment, among others.
“This two-week gap is to ensure that enrolment of students is done orderly and that schools will be clean and prepared for the school opening,” Jeruta said.
She explained that the national school calendar is more of a guide on the school activities arranged for the school year to ensure that there will be no overlapping of activities.
It can also be considered as a timeline reference, Jeruta added, making sure that special dates are well-coordinated with the school activities and certain important dates will not be missed.
“Local schools division offices are allowed to conceptualize their own activities or events that will fit their own setting, but all of the activities should be synchronized with the national school calendar,” she said.
DepEd-7 will reproduce copies of the school calendar that will be distributed to different schools division offices.
Under Department Order 23 dated April 22, 2016, DepEd Secretary Brother Armin Luistro notified the regional directors, schools division superintendents, public and private school heads about the school calendar for the school year that stipulates the core events and activities for the year.
School year 2016-2017 will begin on June 13, 2016 (Monday) and will end on April 7, 2017 (Friday), exactly 202 school days.
Private schools are allowed to deviate from the school calendar, but should not start classes earlier than the first Monday of June and not later than the last day of August, as provided by the law. — (FREEMAN)