President Benigno Aquino III is leaving it up to the Department of Education (DepEd) to decide on the proposal to implement a three-day school week in the most congested schools in Metro Manila, Malacañang said Thursday.
“Pinauubaya po ng ating Pangulo kay Secretary [Armin] Luistro at sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon ang pagkilos at ang inisyatiba para magbigay ng agarang katugunan at kalutasan sa mga suliraning ito,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a press conference.
“Ang kagandahan lang nito, mabre-break yung numero ng estudyante na papasok sa isang paaralan,” Education Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo told GMA News TV’s Balitanghali on Wednesday.
“Halimbawa kung ang isang paaralan, ang kakayanin lang ay isang libo na mag-aaral pero ang pumasok ay dalawang libo, ang mangyayari niyan, yung isang libo pwedeng Monday, Wednesday, Friday yung isa namang grupo pwedeng Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, pero extended hours,” Mateo added.
On Thursday, Coloma agreed that this move may address the problem.
“Sa halip na magiging siksikan nga, ang ginawa nila ay inadjust nila yung time para mabigyan ng sapat na oras at sapat na lugar at sapat na pasilidad lahat,” he said.
Earlier, DepEd said it has yet to conduct studies about it but the Palace on Thursday said the government will ensure that whatever is decided will benefit the students.
“Kaya ito ay pinapatupad o ipapatupad sa isang paraan na magiging responsive or tutugon doon sa kongkretong sitwasyon sa bawat paaralan at sa bawat lugar,” said Coloma.
The Palace official also assured that they are addressing any problems or backlogs caused by recent calamities.
