DepEd-7 still to decide on scrapping sem break

CEBU, Philippines - Don’t make any plans for the semestral break yet.

This as the Department of Education VII has not made any decision yet whether to cancel the semestral break for the elementary and secondary levels in the region or not.

DepEd VII regional director Recaredo Borgonia, who is still out of the country, told The FREEMAN yesterday that he will convene the district supervisors next week to check the number of school days that were lost in their respective schools.

DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus earlier made a pronouncement canceling the semestral break in the elementary and secondary levels for this year to compensate for the lost of school days caused by typhoons and other calamities.

Lapus however did not specifically say whether his order is only applicable for schools in Metro Manila or nationwide.

Borgonia said that although Central Visayas experienced some typhoons, it did not sustain a similar damage to large parts of Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon due to typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

“That’s why I have to know before I will issue a   memorandum whether to cancel the semestral break in the region or not,” Borgonia said.

The annual semestral break is originally scheduled on October 26 to 30.

Since classes opened last June, DepEd already suspended classes for at least 13 school days either due to weather-related problems and other school holidays implemented due to the A (H1N1) scare.

Under DepEd rules and regulations, schools are required to hold classes for 204 days every school year.

For this school year, classes in elementary and high school started last June 1 and should end on March 31, 2010.

Some elementary and high school students in Cebu City and Mandaue City interviewed by The FREEMAN said that they are not in favor that DepEd will cancel their semestral break since we did not have the same experience as Manila.

“Nganong apilon man ta nga wala man gi-suspenso ang among mga klase tungod sa bagyo. Unya wala man sad nasuspenso ang amoa klase tungod sa A(H1N1). So unfair kaayo nga wala mi semestral break,” Daisy Albanda, a fourth year high school student said.

Gabriel Cimtango, a grade five pupil said that there should be a semestral break in order for him and his other playmates to have more time to play. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ   NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)