Iminungkahi ni Rizal Rep. Michael John Duavit na dapat magsabay-sabay ang pagbubukas ng klase sa lahat ng paaralan sa bansa simula sa susunod na taon.

Isinumite niya ang House Bill 5802, na nagsasaad na dapat magsimula ang unang araw ng klase sa ikalawang Lunes ng Agosto, ngunit hindi hihigit sa ikalawang Lunes ng Setyembre.

“Academic calendars play a vital role in influencing students’ performance. The schedule of activities and the frequency of class suspensions brought by the weather conditions depend on the academic calendar,” aniya.

Batay sa datos noong 2016-2017 ng Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, inihayag niyang 34 na unibersidad at kolehiyo ang gumamit na ng Agosto hanggang Mayo na school calendar dahil sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic integration.

Sinabi niyang layunin ng kanyang panukala na magamit nang husto ang academic calendar year.

“By adjusting the semestral school year, the effects of the rainy season which begins in the month of June is mitigated in view of several public schools which are used as evacuation areas in cases of weather-related disasters. As a result, class suspensions are lessened,” ani Duavit.

Inaatasan ng House Bill 5802 ang Department of Education (DepEd) at ang Commission on Higher Education (CHED) na lumikha ng mga ipatutupad na regulasyon ng nasabing panukala. - Charissa Luci-Atienza