DepEd Confirms No June Class Opening for 2024: What You Need to Know
Introduction
The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially ruled out the possibility of reverting to the traditional June opening of classes for the school year 2024-2025. Assistant Education Secretary Francis Bringas made this announcement during a Senate committee hearing on basic education. This article delves into the details of this decision and its implications for students, parents, and educators.
Key Points
- School Year 2023-2024: Classes will commence on August 29, 2023, and conclude on June 14, 2024.
- Legal Guidelines: The August 29 start date aligns with existing laws that mandate the school year should not begin before June 1 or after August 31.
- DepEd Order Number 22: This order outlines the school calendar for 2022-2023 and indicates that the 2024-2025 school year will run from August 26, 2024, to June 27, 2025.
- Public Concerns: Proposals to revert to the pre-pandemic June-to-March calendar have been circulating, fueled by difficulties in conducting classes during the summer.
The Senate Hearing
Assistant Education Secretary Francis Bringas attended a Senate committee hearing on basic education, where he confirmed that for the school year 2023-2024, classes will begin on August 29 and end on June 14, 2024. This decision is in line with existing laws that dictate the school year should not start before the first day of June and not later than the last day of August.
DepEd Order Number 22
DepEd Order Number 22 serves as the guideline for the school calendar and activities for the academic year 2022-2023. The same order also provides a glimpse into the future, stating that the school calendar for 2024-2025 should commence from August 26, 2024, to June 27, 2025.
Public Sentiment and Proposals
There have been affordable proposals to revert to the pre-pandemic school calendar of June to March. These suggestions come in the wake of complaints about the challenges of holding classes during the summer months. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the panel chairman, had previously filed a resolution highlighting these concerns. The resolution cited pre-pandemic data showing numerous suspensions in the original school calendar due to natural disasters like typhoons, transport strikes, and earthquakes.
Health Concerns
Senator Gatchalian also emphasized the need to re-evaluate the current school calendar. He pointed out that continuous exposure to summer heat could be detrimental to students’ health, a concern that has been echoed by parents and educators alike.
Conclusion
The DepEd has made it clear that the school year 2024-2025 will not start in June. While there are valid concerns about the current calendar, the department appears to be sticking to its August start date for the foreseeable future. This news serves as an important update for all stakeholders in the education sector.
