When public schools across Negros Oriental and the entire country open their doors on June 16, they do so under a “new” old calendar — one that many hope will ease the hardships endured by students and teachers in recent years.
The Department of Education’s decision to revert to an earlier school year, ending March 31, aims to spare young learners and their mentors from the searing heat of April and May, which last year forced widespread class suspensions.
This adjustment is a welcome step, grounded in common sense and genuine concern for student well-being.
For too long, classrooms without air conditioning have turned into virtual ovens during the peak of the dry season, undermining both health and learning outcomes. Now, there is hope that a more humane schedule will foster a more conducive environment for education.
But as the school bells ring once again, we must be clear-eyed about the challenges that lie ahead.
In Negros Oriental, one urgent issue is the chronic shortage of classrooms — a problem made worse in areas like Canlaon City where school buildings have been repurposed as evacuation centers, following the recent or ongoing volcanic eruptions.
While it is only right to prioritize the safety of displaced families, this double burden on schools threatens to disrupt learning for many more children.
National and local governments must urgently coordinate efforts to build temporary learning spaces, and accelerate the repair and construction of permanent classrooms.
Beyond infrastructure, there is a deeper crisis that demands immediate attention. A recent survey revealed a troubling truth: many senior high school graduates are “functionally illiterate”, unable to comprehend or critically engage with basic texts.
This is a stark indictment of our education system, and a disservice to the very students it is meant to uplift.
Addressing this learning crisis will require more than curriculum tweaks. It calls for investment in teacher training, better learning materials, and a renewed focus on foundational literacy and numeracy — particularly in the early grades.
Moreover, the community — from parents to local officials — must be enlisted as partners in the cause of education.
As we welcome another school year, we must celebrate the resilience of our teachers and students who persevere despite the odds. But we must also confront the uncomfortable realities before us. A better calendar is a good start.
Now let us match it with a resolve to ensure that every child in Negros Oriental — and across the nation — not only attends school, but genuinely learns.
