KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel commended the government for its move to revert the academic calendar back to allow students to begin classes by June and end by March.

Manuel said the move is long overdue and should be considered as well in higher education.

“Ang tanong na lang po natin: Heatproof po ba ang college students? Sapat na ba na kapag lumala ang init, online class o distance learning na naman ang solusyon para sa college students?” Manuel said.

“Kaya dapat i-review na rin ng CHED ang patakaran ng maraming pamantasan na simulan ang academic year nila ng Agosto o Setyembre,” he added.

“Since UP began the trend in 2014 to move the calendar, sumunod na rin ang maraming pamantasan for the sake of being ‘internationally competitive’, pero gumanda ba ang kalidad ng edukasyon dahil sa calendar shift na to? Hindi pa yan napapatunayan. Sumabay lang tayo para sundin ang standards ng mga dayuhang pamantasan at kumpanya, pero napag-iiwanan naman ang sarili nating mga estudyante,” Manuel further said.

The solon reiterated that the calendar shift never should have happened since it is cosmetic, unscientific and unnecessary.

“I-revert na rin natin ang college na sa June magsimula. At sa paparating muli na budget deliberations tiyakin natin ang sapat na pondo para tiyakin ang kalidad ng edukasyon,” he stressed.