Mismatching commands

Department of Education (DepEd) released DepEd order no.34 s. 2022 on July

11, 2022, announcing the calendar of schedules for the school year 2022-2023.

However, the arrangement for the school year’s start and end becomes a problematic

setup with the overlapping problems of heat and school classrooms being a mismatch

for summer.

In the order, it states that the school year should start on August 22, 2022 and

end on summer July 7 of the succeeding year. But with the hot and humid weather

during summer, it is no wonder that many students struggle to focus and learn

effectively in the classroom. One of the underlying issues is the lack of proper

infrastructure in most Philippine schools. Many classrooms do not have proper

ventilation or air conditioning, making it difficult for students to stay comfortable

during the hot season.

Just recently, several places in the country reached high heat indexes of at least

40 degrees celsius and above. With the constant changes in global temperature, the

heat index can continuously increase up to unhealthy warming. Students and faculty

are mandated to withstand the hot weather inside the hot classrooms.

One factor which contributes to the problem is the lack of government funding

for the education sector. While education is supposed to be a priority, the country is

falling behind in this aspect. Without proper funding, it is challenging for schools to

upgrade their facilities and provide the necessary resources to their students.

The government and educational institutions need to re-evaluate the current

school calendar and address the issues mentioned above. One solution is to move the

start of the academic year earlier which would give students a chance to enjoy their
summer break without having to worry about their studies. Another solution is to

invest in better school infrastructure, such as air conditioning and proper ventilation,

to create a comfortable learning environment.

In conclusion, it's time for the government and educational institutions to take

a hard look at the education sector in the Philippines. By avoiding further

mismatching commands, the country can provide a better learning environment for its

students. Education is not just a responsibility of the government; it's a responsibility

of every Filipino.