Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Sunday backed the retention of the present school calendar to “save children from rainy season sickness.”
He opposed the proposal to shift the country’s education system to the old school calendar, June to March, instead of the present August to May.
Rodriguez cited the rainy season, which mostly falls within the June-March period, as his main reason for objection.
“Let’s retain the present academic calendar for the sake of our children. Let’s spare them from rainy season-related ailments, like colds, fever, and flu,” he said. “Just one life saved is worth the decision to shift to the new August-May schedule.”
He said studies have found that there are fewer rainy days in the present school calendar than in the old one.
“Let’s not expose our students and children to more rain, more flooding and more rainy weather-linked risks. The young — those in pre-school, kindergarten and in the grades — are the most vulnerable,” the lawmaker noted.
Fewer rainy days also mean fewer cancellation of classes, he raised.
The present academic calendar also aligns with the school schedules of many countries. This was another big reason for the shift from June to August opening, Rodriguez said.
“It enhances collaboration among Philippine and foreign schools and fosters faculty, personnel and student exchanges,” he said.
To return the educational system to its old calendar would mean new difficult adjustments on the part of parents, teachers, other school personnel and students, the solon said.
“They have already adjusted to the August-May timeline. So, let’s leave it at that, let’s not disturb it,” he said.
Instead of tinkering with the academic calendar, he urged Department of Education officials to focus on improving education in the fields of sciences, mathematics, information technology, history, culture, English, and moral values.
“We have been lagging our neighbors in these fields. We used to have a fighting chance in mathematics, science, and English, but this has disappeared,” he said.
DepEd officials are studying the return to the June-March school calendar.