May 06, 2024 - President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed his hopes on Monday to revert to the traditional June-March school calendar by next year.
During an impromptu interview in Pasay City, Marcos discussed the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposal to return to the old school calendar. The President, citing class cancellations due to extreme heat from El Niño, affirmed the necessity of this shift.
“I asked DepEd for that and I asked Vice President and Education Secretary Inday Sara Duterte to give me a concerted plan because it looks like we don’t have to wait anymore and it seems necessary. I don’t see any objections really from anyone especially with the El Niño,” Marcos told reporters.
He added, “So, it’s really necessary. So yes, that’s part of the plan that we’re trying to do, to bring it back already to the old schedule. I think it would be better for the kids.”
When asked about the timeline for this shift, the President responded, “Hopefully by next year, yes, this will end.”
In response to public demands for an immediate return to the old school calendar due to extreme heat, DepEd has suggested to Marcos to conclude the upcoming school year 2024-2025 in March 2025 and commence the succeeding school year in June.
DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Michael Poa, in a Zoom interview, stated that the agency is committed to following President Marcos’s order. “The Department of Education will implement and will abide by the decision of the President about the reversion to June to March or our original school calendar,” he said.
DepEd presented Marcos with several options, including an earlier end to the school year 2024-2025 on March 31, 2025, which would result in fewer days for in-person classes, equivalent to 165 days.
Poa clarified that these options were not solely influenced by the country’s climate. “The reason behind our proposal is one, this is preferred by the majority of our people. Secondly, of course, economic considerations to our local tourist destinations,” he explained.
Moving forward, Poa mentioned that learning disruptions may be prevented despite the looming La Niña through the implementation of alternative delivery modes (ADM). Under the ADM approach, learners may continue their tasks via online classes, modules, or blended learning.
As of Monday, 7,372 out of 47,678 public schools nationwide have implemented ADM.