MANILA: The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said it is now preparing concrete plans to prevent learning loss as it braces for fewer school days in the coming school year 2024-2025. This came after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gave a go signal to revert to the old school calendar starting next school year. During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said the agency included in its proposal letter to President Marcos a more aggressive approach which shall reduce school days to 165. "Magiging mas puspusan ngayon iyong ating mga measures to make sure na iyong lahat ng competencies natin for a given grade level ay na-cover natin (We will intensify our measures to make sure that all competencies for given grade levels are covered) in a shorter period of time," he said. Under the proposal, the end of the school year (EOSY) for the current academic year will be on May 31; the opening of SY 2024-2025 shall be on July 29 with its target end on Marc h 31, 2025; and starting SY 2025-2026 by June 2025. "Kung ibababa natin iyong number of school days natin (If we will reduce our number of school days), it has to be covered, kailangan nating tustusan iyan ng mga makabago at makabuluhang (we need to support that with new and meaningful) approaches," Bringas said. He said these approaches shall be specified once the preparation of the DepEd curriculum and teaching strands is finalized. Bringas also said the adjustments in the coverage of learning competencies shall also be made for the MATATAG curriculum. "For the implementation of the MATATAG curriculum, maaaring mas kaunting interventions ang gagawin natin diyan, pero iyong old curriculum natin, iyon ang mas marami tayong measures (interventions may be lesser, but we will have more measures with the old curriculum)," he said. The MATATAG curriculum will be initially implemented in Kinder, Grades I, IV, and VII starting the coming school year. MATATAG stands for 'Make the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, Active and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusiveness learning, and positive learning environment; and, Give support for teachers to teach better.' Source: Philippines News Agency
