September school opening opposed

A ranking administration legislator has expressed his opposition to proposals to reset the opening of classes to September.

Valenzuela City Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo II said yesterday resetting the customary June opening of the school year would have negative repercussions on the economy.

"We must not rush into changing the opening of classes just because it sounds good or appear to be beneficial," Gunigundo said.

He pointed out that such deferment would also give the government the additional burden of maintaining public schools during the summer months.

Gunigundo noted most educational systems around the world adjust their calendar to the summer vacation of students.

He said that following the example of the United States in opening classes in the month of September could not apply in our case since vacation of the students in the US starts in the summer month of June.

Just like in the Philippines, Gunigundo said school authorities in other countries have also their share of heavy rains, flooding and other natural weather phenomenon, forcing them to order the suspension of classes.

Gunigundo pointed out that during summer, schools would incur higher electric bills in the effort of cooling the classrooms. And in cases of classrooms with no electric fans at all, students would have to bear the summer heat.

"It does not rain all the time. But during summer, it is always hot," he said.

Calls for the deferment of the school opening have been mounting, some citing the possible effect of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) on the students.

Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus earlier said there is no urgency to delay the opening of school year 2003-2004 due to the SARS scare, as proposed by some lawmakers like Senate President Franklin Drilon.

A reset school year would also mean children will miss their annual summer break during April and May, the year’s hottest months and, in the latter month’s case, generally considered fiesta time.

President Arroyo earlier stated her preference for a September school opening, rather than the monsoon-opener June schedule in the country.

Mrs. Arroyo said she wished that children be spared from the hassles of the rainy season, taking note that oftentimes, classes had to be suspended because of the monsoon rains and floods.

She pointed out that it is during the rainy season that school children are most needed in the countryside to help out in the farms.

Mrs. Arroyo stressed it is more "seasonably adaptable" for schools in the country to open in September than in June, the onset of the rainy season.

Sens. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Manuel Villar also expressed their support for proposals to transfer the school opening from June to September.

Pimentel said Congress and Malacañang should consider the proposal "to prevent or minimize" the disruption of classes due to inclement weather.

For his part, Villar said resetting the school calendar will spare the children from monsoon rains and floods during the onset of the rainy season beginning June.

Villar pointed out that even education officials are sometimes at a loss on when to declare a suspension of classes during these months because of the unpredictability of the monsoon season.