BAGUIO City officials on Wednesday urged higher education institutions in the city to institutionalize academic breaks in their school calendars.

Under Resolution No. 620, series of 2021, city legislators said that granting an academic break and institutionalizing it will serve “as one of health mechanisms that would respond to the needs of the students and teachers.”

“The council recognized the need to set safety precautions and observe distance learning to protect the students and teachers from the dreaded coronavirus disease which caused the implementation of numerous lockdowns over the past 22 months resulting in a significant increase in mental health issues not only among adults but also among the youth and students,” they pointed out.

“It is also a must that concerned government agencies and the city government ensure continuous learning and academic engagement between the teachers and the students,” they said.

The officials added that school administrators must stand with the students in the call for “genuine compassion among concerned community.”

They added that education stakeholders must put an end to the rising number of youth and students “who succumb to depression, among other related mental issues.”

“As people grapple with the pandemic, there is a need for everyone to consider the needs of the students, forge a strong collaboration between the student body and the school or university administration to help in promoting the welfare of the students,” they added.