Breaks in the academic calendar might be removed, says CHED

Amidst the shift to online mode of instruction, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero De Vera quipped in an ambush interview last September 11 about the possibility of removal of Christmas and summer breaks on academic calendars due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

De Vera told the reporters that since the students are attending online classes at their houses, Christmas and summer breaks are not in need anymore because the students are already at their homes.

“You put a Christmas break because the students have to go home. They’re not going home, they’re already at home,” he said.

The CHED chairperson also suggested that summer breaks can be removed in the academic calendar to have two straight semesters for the school year.

“Eh di, tanggalin mo yung summer break. Mag two semesters ka ng school year. No more summer,” he explained.

This comment by De Vera came amidst the call of the students for ‘academic freeze’ for this school year with the numerous social media posts on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter with regard to the halting of the current academic year to ease the burden of the students in this pandemic.

In addition, he also agreed in favour of universities and colleges in conducting classes during weekends, including Sundays, citing that universities are now flexible.

“Kasi nga, flexible ka. Hindi ka naman every day, 8-9 a-attend ng klase. Yung iba, twice a week lang magme-meet because everything now is done on a flexible manner,” he cited.

CHED previously said that some schools have started their school year this June to August with flexible methods of learning and teaching, adding that universities can still open up to late November as long as they are ready and not to put the students and teachers in disadvantage.

LAYOUT BY: Laiza Simeoune B. Sanchez

PHOTO SOURCE(S): Darren Langit, Clip Art Redcross Clip Art, CHED, PNG Tree