President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte participate in Brigada Eskwela 2023 at the Victorino Mapa High School in Manila. (RTVM)
MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, Aug. 14, said the government needs to include climate change data in determining whether to revert back the opening and closing schedule of classes during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period.
“Pinag-uusapan nga namin, we were talking with the teaching staff here, tinatanong ko sa kanila ano ‘yung preference nila kaya’t pinagaaralan natin. The DepEd is in the process, sila sa kasalukuyan ay mayroon silang ginagawang study kung ano ba talaga ang pinakamaganda,” President Marcos said when he led the nationwide Brigada Eskwela or School Maintenance Week at the Victorino Mapa High School in Manila, an event also attended by Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte, also the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.
(Translation: We were talking about it, we were talking with the teaching staff here, I asked them what their preference was so we will study it. The DepEd is in the process, they are currently doing a study on what is really the best.)
The President was asked if he supported the call to implement the old academic calendar, and he said the DepEd is studying this matter carefully.
“Hindi ganoon kasimple ‘yan kasi ‘yung pinalitan natin ‘yung schedule dahil may pandemic, ngayon naman climate change ang kailangan nating pag-usapan dahil sa schedule ngayon, napaka-init. Pati ‘yung mga bata hinihimatay na kaya kailangan natin isama sa pag-aaral ‘yan kung ano ang kailangan natin gawin,” he added.
(Translation: It’s not that simple because we changed the schedule because of the pandemic, now we have to talk about climate change because of the current schedule, it’s very hot. Even the children are fainting, so we need to include in that study what we need to do.)
The Chief Executive said the welfare of students, teachers and non-teaching personnel of schools should be considered in decision-making.
Earlier, President Marcos and VP Duterte participated in the repainting of armchairs and inspected several classrooms at the said public high school as part of Brigada Eskwela 2023.
He was also informed of the maintenance works being done at the said school is in preparation for the opening of classes on Tuesday, Aug. 29. (PIA-NCR)
