New Philippine school schedule backed

Incoming Education Secretary Jesli Lapus is not opposed to move the opening of classes to September in order to minimize the number of times classes are suspended due to typhoons and flooding.
Lapus said the advantage of the September opening of classes is that by that month, the rainy season would have ended already and new classrooms have already been built, since the release of budget for education is usually delayed.
He said that if the plan pushes through, the country’s school opening would be the same as that in the United States and other countries.
However, opening of classes in September would mean extending the current school year up to May, which is not conducive to learning since during this month the temperature is too hot.
Several lawmakers, including newly installed Senate President Manuel B. Villar, have proposed resetting the opening of classes from June to September due to the rainy season.
Villar’s bill on the change of the school calendar has remained unacted in the Senate. A counterpart version is also pending in the House of Representatives.--Jonathan M. Hicap