THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) XI on Wednesday confirmed the reversion of classes to the old schedule this coming school year 2024-2025.
Speaking in yesterday’s AFP-PNP press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Jenielito Atillo, DepEd XI spokesperson, said, “We will be going back to the June opening and then immediately after will all have the other class schedules in place.”
He added that this is a Department commitment articulated in the Matatag agenda established by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
Atillo said the reasons for the reversion to the old schedule were the health of the teachers and students and the result of extensive consultations and surveys conducted by the department.
“There is a clamor to it that we responded immediately and we have extensive consultations that are being run through teachers, learners, relevant stakeholders, and even private sectors,” he said. “And they are actually one in saying that they have to revert to the pre-pandemic schedule.”
“This is actually a product of resounding consensus and extensive consultations and we also conducted in line with this a study, together with a Philippine-known university,” he further said.
The end of the school year 2023-2024 will be on May 31, 2024.
The education spokesperson said the recognition, graduation, and moving-up ceremonies must be conducted from May 29 to 31, 2024. But he said the department would allow an extension up to June 1, 2024, Saturday, on special cases but only after getting teachers and parents to agree.
Meanwhile, the school year 2024-2025 will start on July 29, 2024, and end on May 16, 2025.
While he admitted that the schedule means classes will miss several school days, they have adopted some innovations to enhance the competency of the learners. Accordingly, the school days will not exceed 220 days but not below 200 days.
“Rest assured even if we have the new schedule now education will not be changed and learners will receive what is appropriate for them for their respective teaching-learning process,” he further said.
