At the senate hearing on proposed emergency powers, Senator Grace Poe, chairman of the Committee on Public Services, suggested an earlier holiday break for the students.
This aims to decongest the traffic situation during the holiday rush in December.
READ: Home-based jobs, classes seen to reduce traffic congestion
“So that students’ transport services will not add to the volume of vehicles on the road. It will also allow them to spend more time with their families if we move the vacation to an earlier time. We can make up for it in the coming months when it’s not as busy,” said. Sen. Poe.
The Department of Education (DepEd) agrees with the proposal of Sen. Poe, but says it needs further study.
“All of this have to undergo a thorough study. Under the context of school calendar days, non-negotiable contact time, dates that were already set for our examination, then we have our Holy Week. We are looking on this things,” DepEd Assistant Secretary Thony Umali said.
Under the DepEd Order No. 23 series of 2016, the students have to complete the 202 school days in a year.
Based on the 2016 to 2017 school calendar, the holiday vacation will start on December 22, among public shools while classes will resume on January 2, 2017.
“Ideally, this should be tackled before the school calendar was made. Well, that is the ideal way of looking at things. But of course, we are open to the suggestion,” Umali said.
Based on their record, there are around 3 million students enrolled in more than 3,000 elementary and high schools in Metro Manila.
DepEd admits that the idea will help ease the traffic congestion by excluding the students from the volume of commuters during holiday rush.
DepEd assures that they will include the said proposal in their upcoming meetings. — Joan Nano | UNTV News & Rescue
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