Press Release - SP Zubiri asks DepEd, CHED: return to June-March academic calendar to spare students from extreme heat

The almost unbearable rise in temperature for the summer and the recurring cancellation of face-to-face classes are both compelling reasons to fast-track the return to a June to March academic calendar and spare students, as well as teachers, from the ill effects of the extreme heat.

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri is asking the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to revert to the pre-pandemic calendar this coming school year (SY) instead of a gradual return in SY 2025-2026 and further subject students and teachers to possible health hazards next summer.

"Aside from exposing our students and teachers to the dangers of extreme heat, I honestly believe that the prevailing weather conditions during summer are not conducive to learning," Zubiri said.

"Kaya kung pwede sana, huwag na natin hintayin ang school year 2025-2026. Kung kayang ipatupad sa susunod na school year, gawin na natin at kawawa ang ating mga estudyante sa susunod na summer," the Senate chief added.

Zubiri said he has also withdrawn Senate Bill No. 788, filed at the start of the 19th Congress, which synchronizes the school year to start in August.

"In an ideal world, we do want to be in sync with international school calendars, to give our students a better chance at getting into programs abroad," he acknowledged. "But the reality is that the August calendar has proven to be disruptive to our education system, and even dangerous to the health of our children and school staff."

In fact, Zubiri noted, when class suspensions due to the extreme heat started on April 4, a total of 4,000 schools suspended face-to-face classes and switched to asynchronous and distance learning modes. A week after, on April 12, a total of 7,000 schools suspended face-to-face classes, in both cases affecting more than a million students.

Since then, DepEd's Department Order 37 has been implemented, giving school heads the authority and discretion to suspend in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery modes in cases of extreme heat, which even reached as high as 45 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country.

In many LGUs such as Quezon City, face-to-face classes