FILE PHOTO: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines鈥斅� It鈥檚 time to move the school 鈥渟ummer鈥� break back to April and聽 May.
This is according to Senator Sherwin聽 Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on basic education, following reports of students being hospitalized after participating in the fire and earthquake drills in a school in Laguna.
Gatchalian said he was surprised upon hearing the news, noting that the Department of Education is very strict when it comes to protocols on activities like fire and earthquake drills.
鈥淥f course, 鈥榶ung mga principals natin binibigyan din natin sila ng laya para gumawa ng mga ganitong pagsasanay pero meron silang sinusundan na proseso. So nagulat lang ako na nangyari 鈥榶an,鈥� he told reporters on Tuesday.
(Of course, we give our principals the freedom to conduct such training, but they have a process to follow. So, I was just surprised that it happened.)
READ: 120 students hospitalized after fire, earthquake drills in Cabuyao City
He called on school principals to strictly follow the rules and not to put students in danger.
Later asked if there is a need to return to the old school calendar, Gatchalian quickly answered yes.
鈥淵es, I agree with you, kailangan ibalik 鈥榶an sa dati (that needs to be returned to before),鈥� he said, explaining the reasons why the school vacation was previously set in April to May.
He pointed out that elections are always held around April to May, which was also deemed as the best time for students to go out and spend time with their families 鈥渁s opposed to the rainy season.鈥�
READ: Duterte signs law on rescheduling opening of classes amid calamities
鈥淪o mas maganda na ibalik natin sa dating April-May ang summer vacation,鈥� Gatchalian said.
(So it would be better to move the summer vacation back to its original schedule in April-May.)
The senator also mentioned that the school calendar was only adjusted from the previous June to March to the current August to July due the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 time to bring it back especially now that it鈥檚 normal already,鈥� according to the senator.
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