CHANGING DEPED CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

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FERDINAND P. YAMBAO, EdD

The country made the huge adjustment in economy, business, and most importantly in our educational system due to the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in 2020. But even prior to the pandemic, there had been calls to make the academic calendar in the Philippines synchronized with other countries, especially with its Southeast Asian counterparts brought by climate change in our country.

After series of consultations in the field, the Department of Education released the DepEd Order No. 03, series of 2024, the end of current school year, SY 2023-2024 was moved to May 31, 2024 to give way to the end of school year (EOSY) break from June 1 to July 26, 2024. They also announced that the official start of SY 2024-2025 is on July 29, 2024 and will end on May 16, 2025.

They said that “Together with the resounding consensus from extensive consultations with teachers, learners, and relevant stakeholders, the same call is echoed by the findings of the study conducted by the Philippine Normal University (PNU) titled Analysis of the Basic Education School Year Calendar in the Philippines: Inputs to Policy,”

Years after implementing the June-July school break, the Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that it will gradually return to the old school calendar or the AprilMay school break.

The schedule of DepEd national activities such as the Palarong Pambansa, National Festival of Talents, National Schools Press Conference, and Learners’ Convergence were also adjusted in congruent with the said DEPED Order to avoid disruption of school days necessary to cover all learning competencies.

May this gradual revert on the calendar of activities will have an impact on the quality of education and for the benefit of our learners and teachers in general.

-oOoThe

Head Teacher III at Sta. Maria Elementary School, Magalang North

District