Back to school for Filipino students
MILLIONS of elementary and high school students flock to public and private schools today, June 1, 2015, to officially start school year 20152016. Under Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 9, the school year consists of 201 school days, including a five-day semestral break, and is set to end on April 1, 2016.
Private schools are allowed to deviate from the DepEd-mandated date, but they must not open classes earlier than the first Monday of June and not later than last day of August, as provided in Republic Act 7797, An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from 200 Days to Not More Than 220 Class Days.
Every year during the opening of classes, DepEd sees perennial problems such as lack of enough classrooms, teachers, and equipment as well as late enrollment, but assures students and parents that all preparations are in place. Its Brigada Eskwela Program engages all education stakeholders as well as volunteers to contribute time, effort, and resources in ensuring that public school facilities are readied in time for the opening.
The school calendar, with national and special holidays and the actual teaching-learning days, must be strictly observed in all schools, and the total number of school days must not be compromised, DepEd said. Make-up classes can be conducted to compensate for school days spent for learning-teaching activities and in the event of natural and man-made calamities, but they must be approved by school administrators and parents.
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled on the second or third Saturday after every quarterly examination, to apprise parents on the progress of performance of their children and ensure parental involvement in school activities.
DepEd, headed by Secretary Bro. Armin A. Luistro, is tasked to manage and govern basic education. It formulates policy and is responsible for primary and secondary school systems. It is in charge of curriculum, regulates the construction of schools and facilities, and recruits teachers and staff.
In 2011, the country started to transition from its old 10-year basic education program to the K to 12 educational system. The 12-year system is now compulsory, along with the adoption of new curriculum for all schools. The transition period will end with the 20172018 school year, the graduation date for the first group of students under the new system.
While most Philippine universities are shifting the start of their 2015-2016 calendar to August to keep in step with most of the rest of the world, especially with ASEAN, there is no compelling reason for DepEd to change the academic calendar for elementary and high school. A survey shows that only three regions – Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Western Mindanao – favor the shifting of the academic calendar. DepEd also takes into account that April and May are fiesta months when families bond and enjoy together.