Lapus mulls change in school opening

Incoming Education Secretary Jesli Lapus is mulling the possibility of moving the school opening to September to avoid disruption of classes due to typhoons.

Lapus said he is currently studying the pros and cons of changing the school calendar due to the perennial suspension of classes during the so-called "typhoon season."

He said that one of the advantages of a September class opening is that the typhoon season is over and it is also in time with the opening of classes abroad.

He also cited the delay in the release of the budget for school buildings, which is one of the reasons why many classrooms are not yet ready for occupancy when classes start.

"Kapag inilipat, mas maraming classrooms ang matatapos bago ang pasukan (If we move the school opening, more classrooms will be finished before classes start)," he said.

Classes were suspended again in several parts of the country this week due to the heavy downpour brought about by typhoon "Glenda," which caused flooding in several key areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

As usual, parts of Valenzuela City and Navotas and 70 percent of Malabon went under water following the torrential rains and tidal surges.

On the downside, Lapus said moving the school calendar to September would mean a hotter fourth quarter for the students. 

"Masyado namang mainit sa mga classrooms kapag summer sa April at May (It will be very hot inside classrooms during the summer months of April and May)," he said.

Lapus is set to formally take over the position of DepEd Secretary from Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo, who served as officer-in-charge of the department after Florencio Abad resigned last year and joined the call for President Arroyo’s resignation.

Hidalgo said she is now planning to leave DepEd after the transition period with Lapus. — Sandy Araneta