SENATE Committee on Basic Education chairman Sherwin Gatchalian lauded the Department of Education for starting the transition of reverting back to old school calendar.

Gatchalian said they already conducted hearings whether to go back to April-May summer vacation or stick to the present school calendar.

“Lumalabas 80% gustong bumalik sa dati. Ibig sabihin ang summer break ay April, May. Ang dahilan diyan ay sanay na tayong lahat,” Gatchalian said in an interview at DZBB.

“Pangalawa napakainit naman talagang mag-aral kung summer break so kaya marami sa ating mga kababayan gusto nang bumalik sa nakasanayan natin,” he added.

Earlier, DepEd Director Leila Areola confirmed that the department is finalizing changes to its academic calendar, saying that the shift to a June school opening will happen gradually.

Areola said that the department has drafted an amendment for DepEd Order 22, s. 2023, which refers to the official calendar and schedule of activities for School Year 2023-2024.

“For now the move is for us to gradually revert to June,” Areola said.