For today, I interviewed people who are respected in the field of education as well as some students and parents, too. Read on and find out what they have to say.
Mailin Paterno-Locsin, director, Beacon School: That’s a question we wrestled with when we began the school (it’s going on its third year this school year). Beacon runs an international program that includes all DepEd requirements, and there were requests to begin the school year in September. In the end, we went with the June opening. We have run surveys within the school on just this question, and each time, the responses have been split evenly.
Personally, I don’t think we should begin the school year in September because it means children will be in school on the hottest days and on vacation during rainy season. It’s difficult to focus and learn when it’s hot, and it will be difficult for parents to think of fun and interesting things to do with their kids when typhoon season is on.
Shaina Magdayao, Bench model, actress: I am already used to the regular calendar school days which start every June of the year. Moving it to September would mean major adjustment for all students especially our teachers. They will have to wait for September before they can get back to work. Besides, I really want to go back to school soon to be with my classmates and meet new friends. I really enjoy going to school and it’s fun learning a lot from my teachers.
Senator Ramon Magsaysay: I’m for the retaining of the present school calendar. This isn’t the time to push for the rescheduling of the school opening when it’s already enrolment time. Why disrupt our educational system and allow our students to lose the opportunity to grow because of proposals which have not been adequately studied. We already have too many holidays in this country and extending the vacation to September is not good for the kids.
Len Nepomuceno Guiao, fashion designer, mother: Yes, definitely, I am in favor of moving the start of classes to September – mainly because of SARS. Then rainy season comes in June and then there are floods, with the floods come the announcement of no classes, children are made to go home in the middle of the day. It is also common knowledge that majority of the schools worldwide begin their classes in September. By resetting our school calendar to September it will make us more open to foreign students who want to study here.
Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, vice president, La Salle Greenhills: No. The initial reason given was health-related but the SARS scare does not warrant postponing the opening of classes since the WHO recently released its findings that the Philippine government has been successful in containing the virus. Other reasons given were weather-related: the fact that the rainy season covers the first quarter of the current school year. However, the conditions of most of our classrooms in the country are such that it would be almost impossible to create a conducive learning environment during the summer months. The same suggestion was made in the past but there were very few who supported the idea since students, teachers and parents are happy with the present set-up. If this suggestion is considered at all, it would be unthinkable to do so immediately this school year as there would be enormous problems with teacher’s salaries and student activities in the intervening period.
Father Tito Caluag, vice president for planning and development and alumni affairs, Ateneo de Manila University: No, because it will mean classes will be extended until summer and the heat will be punishment for the students.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel: Congress and Malacañang should seriously consider the transfer of the opening of school classes from June to September to prevent or minimize the disruption of classes due to inclement weather. The regular academic school year in the primary, secondary and tertiary levels should begin in September and end in June to replace the existing June-March schedule. Summer classes should be held July-August instead of May-April. The transfer of school opening has been repeatedly proposed in Congress but this is forgotten as quickly as the floodwaters subside. Although we have always been a tropical country, environmental changes, increasing pollution and faulty planning have aggravated the situation. It would be greatly favorable for students in the countryside since their farmer-parents want them to stay in the farm during the rainy season to help in planting rice and other crops. In many cases, students are forced to skip classes because their parents are badly in need of a helping hand in the farm.
Gianna R. Montinola, mother of two: I am in favor of moving the opening of school year permanently from June to September. First of all, I think that we should follow the general schedule adopted by schools in the Northern Hemisphere, where we are located. This will allow all our students to vacation at the same time and take advantage of the programs being offered not only here but also in other parts of the world. Secondly, the discomforts brought about by the heat during the summer months rival those we have to deal with during the rainy season, plus the added dangers of having the children on the streets when there are severe typhoons or floods. Finally, I am biased in favor of this change because I have a daughter in a local school and a son in an international school here in the Philippines. I have yet to be able to vacation at length with the two of them, since my daughter’s school year usually begins exactly when that of my son’s ends.