The Department of Education (DepEd) has suggested a shift in the school calendar to address the extreme heat during the school year. The proposal aims to end the school year 2024-2025 in March 2025 and start the succeeding school year in June. DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas shared this information during a Senate inquiry on classroom conditions.
The new approach presented by the DepEd would result in schools having only 165 days of in-person classes, falling short of the 180 to 220 days required by law. To make up for this shortfall, alternative delivery mode (ADM) classes, including weekend classes, may be implemented.
As a result of the proposed changes, students may experience a shorter school break if the school year ends in March 2025 and starts in June 2025. The DepEd is also considering the implications of the shift on teachers’ proportional vacation pay (PVP).
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian expressed support for the aggressive approach, emphasizing the need to revert to the old school calendar due to weather unpredictability. Various groups and lawmakers have also called for a return to the old school calendar, citing the extreme heat experienced by students in March and April.
In a related development, the Department of Health (DOH) recommended that schools refrain from outdoor activities during months with extreme heat conditions. Dr. Vito Roque Jr. of DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau highlighted the risks children face during extreme heat.
To support teachers in focusing on their teaching duties, DepEd released an order mandating teaching overload pay for work beyond regular hours. The order also outlined guidelines for compensating teachers for additional tasks and specified categories for ancillary tasks.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) welcomed the new policy, while the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) sought clarification on some provisions that they found concerning. Both groups emphasized the importance of ensuring that teachers’ workload and welfare are prioritized in the implementation of the policy.
