BACOLOD City Councilor Renecito Novero, chairperson of the City Council committee on education, has expressed his disappointment after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) ordered all public universities and colleges to move the opening of classes to August starting school year 2019-2020.
"Personally, I am bothered about the sudden changes of the opening of classes this school year including the additional academic requirements or curricula for students," Novero said.
"The private institutions will stick to the old school calendar so why do the public institutions have to make changes?" Novero asked.
CHED earlier issued a memorandum urging all public universities and colleges to move their opening of classes to August starting school year 2019 to 2020 to ensure that schools' academic calendars are aligned with the fiscal year.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones also earlier announced that the Department of Education (DepEd) will not change the school opening for the basic education level in public schools. Classes in public elementary schools will still open in June.
"We are products of the old system and we don't see any problem with it. I cannot understand the policy of CHED and I'm not comfortable with this new arrangement," Novero said.
He said CHED only wants to align the budgetary scheme, but it's not a problem.
"I'm hopeful that CHED will not finalize this new arrangement. I hope they will conduct further study and conferences. They should welcome questions and suggestions including here in Bacolod City," he added.
Novero, who is also a lawyer, pointed out that CHED should conduct a seminar or any hearing on this matter so that the affected people can submit their suggestions.
"I'm so uncomfortable with the new arrangement, with all due respect, I have not yet found any practical and legal justification for the sudden arrangement of the school calendar," Novero said.
