School breaks in college might not be included in the current academic calendar at the tertiary level.
School breaks in college to be removed
The Commission on Higher Education welcomes the idea of removing schools breaks in college academic calendars for batch 2021. According to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) undersecretary, Prospero de Vera, the extension of classes and reshuffling of class hours will not work well at the tertiary level as compared to the elementary and high school levels. What the undersecretary suggests is that school breaks in college should be removed for this academic year.
School breaks in college are longer compared to other education levels, as a consideration that most of the students will have to fly back to their provinces over these breaks. But for this Academic year, studying from home means that there is no need for that extended travel allowance since they are already at home.
As for the summer break, it will be something that students must be willing to compromise in order to make sure they don’t get left behind.
These kids already had so much wee time to relax during the lock down of schools, it is about time to earn back the school hours missed by hustling hard back in track.
Academic freeze will not be an option
As much as several student activist groups wanted to push through with the academic freeze, the CHED has been firm that it will not indulge such an option. According to the department, colleges and universities have already fairly adjusted certain conditions and limitations to students as consideration due to the pandemic. Several schools have conducted mass promotion, extended submission of requirements, and delayed opening of class semesters.
According to De Vera, the academic freeze suggestion sounds good in paper, but when it will be actually be implemented, consequences will soon follow that might be harder to patch up.
