Gov’t urged to move fast in reverting to old school calendar

Government should move quickly in reverting to the pre-pandemic school calendar to safeguard both children and teachers against potential heat stress during the summer months, House of Representatives Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said on Sunday.

“We are all for the immediate return to the old school calendar with the least possible disruption to classes,” Libanan said.

“Many children from poor households, including 4Ps beneficiaries in the provinces, tend to walk long distances going to or coming from school,” Libanan pointed out.

“The prolonged physical exertion, combined with the agonizing heat, puts them at risk of heat exhaustion,” Libanan said.

Libanan previously represented the lone district of Eastern Samar in Congress before he was elected 4Ps party-list representative.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said government is studying the return to the pre-pandemic school calendar as the unbearable summer heat tends to make learning difficult.

In the current school year, 203 days of classes started on August 22, 2022 and will end on July 7, 2023, thus putting children in school during the hottest summer months of April and May.

In the school year immediately prior to the pandemic, classes began on June 3, 2019 and ended on April 3, 2020.

The Department of Health has been reporting several cases of heat-related illness affecting students since March.

Last week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) warned that the “heat index” around the country has reached “dangerous levels” ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius.

The heat index refers to the temperature that the human body feels.