EDITORIAL - Back to the old school calendar

Earlier this year during one of the hottest dry seasons ever, calls intensified for the return of the school calendar to the old one that started in June and ended in March. The calls were made as many public schools, almost all of which are without air-conditioning, were forced to suspend classes amid the enervating heat.

The old calendar took into consideration the tropical weather, with learners and educators going on the annual two-month break during what is described as summer in this country, and classes starting at the onset of the wet season. Because of the fine weather during the dry season, students and teachers alike were able to enjoy their annual break. The summer vacation, which also coincided with the Holy Week break, became a peak season for travel and tourism, which was good news for livelihoods and the economy.

This academic calendar was upended when the COVID-19 pandemic made the government shut down schools for several months in 2020, with classes resuming under a blended learning mode only in October. Last year, as the COVID threat subsided and pandemic restrictions were gradually lifted, the country returned to full face-to-face classes, with public elementary and high schools finally reopening in person at the end of August.

The new calendar follows the one implemented beginning in 2014 by the state-run University of the Philippines. Certain private schools also follow a trimester calendar. Worldwide, the weather is a major consideration in drawing up the academic calendar, with summer breaks typical. Apart from the difficulty of concentrating on education when one is sweltering in a classroom, it is better to go on vacation during the dry season because enjoying a break in fine weather is good for both physical and mental health.

A survey conducted from June 28 to July 1 this year by pollster Social Weather Stations Inc. showed a high 89 percent of Filipino adults preferring the old June to March school calendar. Only 10 percent preferred the current September to June while one percent had no preference.

Obviously, reverting to the old school calendar is not as simple as it sounds. Education stakeholders estimate that a gradual return with the least disruption can take from four to five years. Last summer’s heat, which climate experts warned could get worse in the coming years due to global warming, as well as the latest SWS survey should provide impetus for speeding up the return to the old academic calendar.