DepEd 7 not ready to change sked in opening of classes

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) 7 will not be ready if the proposal to move the opening of classes from June to September will take effect this year.

"We're not yet ready for that kay ang atong mga eskwelahan in Northern Cebu, Bogo, Bohol and Tagbilaran kay naa pa man tawon under the tents and by 2016 we're supposed to start grades 11 and 12 and that will determine all the turnover of students from grade 12 to college,"said DepEd 7 Director Carmelita Dulangon.

Malacañang said earlier it is open to the idea of moving the opening of classes to September in line with integration initiatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2015. The Philippines is the only ASEAN — member country that begins classes in June.

"The DepEd's stand will be the stand of this region as it is also the stand of all other regions because there is only one decision and that decision comes from the secretary of education," she said.

Dulangon said once Malacañang approves the proposal, there must be synchronization between DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to harmonize the two agencies' schedules. This is important, Dulangon said, because it is DepEd that produces students for college.

Still, Dulangon believes the proposal needs to be studied carefully because in Central Visayas, at least, where March, April and May are 'hot months,' many students whose families are into agriculture help in the field.

"While we would like to give consideration to schools in Luzon when they find the months of July, August and September as rainy months; hence, it's also a time when our parents need the help of the children to plant (during summer season)," she said.

She also said that parents of students also need to be consulted before the government makes a decision.

"We should listen to the parents also because we cannot just make decisions without insights from the parents and also the stakeholders," she said.

Coping

Meanwhile, Dulangon said students in areas ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda in Northern Cebu remained participative in classes despite their traumatic experience. Classes are being held in tents as many of the classrooms there are still being renovated.

Damage to classrooms in Northern Cebu has been pegged at P657,528,000.

"We have bravely stood up. We did everything that we can do at our level. We helped ourselves by doing the rehabilitation made at the initial phase. We didn't just stand by and wait back for people to come to fix things for us," she said.

"Children always have high energy unless masakit sila," she said.

The provincial health office has said that there is no outbreak of measles in the province yet Dulangon could not help but worry that it would be a difficult situation for those in Northern Cebu should an outbreak be declared considering that hospitals in the province have also problems accommodating patients.

The Department of Health has already declared an outbreak in areas in National Capital Region.

"Sana the Lord will help us to control possible outbreak of measles," she said.

K-12

Meanwhile, Dulangon said feedback on the implementation of the K-12 program has been positive, so far.

"Positive. Some parents finally understood that there are students that need to go through the additional two years to prepare them for a better life ahead of them," she said.

Excel Balios, a grade eight student of Lahug National High School, said the K-12 has ben beneficial to her.

"Effective. At least makahibawo kun unsay binisaya ug English (At least we will learn how to use Visaya and English)," she said.

A component of the K-12 program is the use of the mother tongue in classroom instruction. —, (FREEMAN)