More than just rain

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

It is an issue that never fails to be raised and debated by politicians and bureaucrats every year: The proposal to move the start of the school year from June to September.

Those who want the start of the school year to be moved say that June, being the start of the rainy season, leads to many schooldays being disturbed and school children inconvenienced by the heavy rains or typhoons that frequently occur during this time.

They also point out that the current school year in the Philippines does not jibe with the schedules of most of the world, especially the United States and most of Asia. This makes it difficult for families with members or relatives in other countries to spend time with each other as their vacation schedules do not match. The schedule of our school year also makes it difficult for foreign students to study in the Philippines or for Filipino students to study abroad because the differences in the school years mean that both cases have to lose at least a whole semester.

On the other hand, those who say that the current schedule is just fine say that with today’s changing weather patterns, September weather has proven to be as inclement as June’s, making weather a non-issue. They also say that the challenges of holding classes during April and May, the hottest months of the