DepEd rejects calls for academic break

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) — The Department of Education said Tuesday there is no need for an academic break amid the surge in COVID-19 cases, noting that what the students need are less strict policies, which the agency is already implementing.

“Iyong palaging sinasabing academic break ay panawagan ng mga kabataan, pero tayo sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon ay mayroon tayong sinasabing academic ease,” Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said in a briefing.

[Translation: The academic break is a call from the youth, but in the Department of Education, we have the so-called academic ease.]

“Naniniwala po kami na hindi naman kailangang itigil ang pagkatuto, ang kailangan ay mas maging considerate tayo sa mga sitwasyon ng bawat bata,” he added.

[Translation: We believe learning should not stop and what we need is to be more considerate of the situation of each student.]

He also said the lack of gadgets is not a “reason” to suspend classes since students can use printed self-learning materials.

He said the DepEd has already asked teachers to be less strict with deadlines for submission of requirements and be more understanding of their students’ plight as they deal with the different challenges of studying at home.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also opposed calls for a nationwide academic break. 

After months of delayed opening due to the pandemic, basic education classes resumed in October under blended learning, which involves a mix of printed self-learning modules, internet-based sessions, and radio and TV broadcasts. Classes in other levels are also mostly held online.

The DepEd extended the current school year in public schools by a month as learning gaps were seen and have to be addressed "to meet the required essential learning competencies."

The current school year will now end on July 10, 2021 instead of June 11.