3-day school week eyed in Valenzuela

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) is looking at implementing a three-day school week in five public elementary and high schools in Valenzuela City next school year to address classroom congestion.

Valenzuela City schools division superintendent Wilfredo Cabral said the busing system alone will not curb overcrowding in public schools.

He said they did not push through with the new class schedule this school year due to lack of preparations.

The schools that are expected to pilot the three-day school week are Wawang Pulo Elementary School, Polo National High School, Pio Valenzuela ES, Mapulang Lupa High School and Doña Ata Elementary School.

Cabral proposed that students come to school either on a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday or Thursday-Friday-Saturday schedule.

“It will not only address congestion but the students’ learning as well because right now they are shortchanged by the six hours schedule (under the double shifts system),” he said.

He admitted that the experimental busing system has hardly eased congestion at the Malinta Elementary School Pinalagad Annex.

The DepEd-Valenzuela Division Office, in partnership with the local government, implements a busing system wherein 140 Grade 5 pupils from the Malinta Elementary School Pinalagad Annex are transported daily to nearby Caruhatan West Elementary School.