The Christmas break for all public school students formally began yesterday, according to the school calendar issued by the Department of Education (DepEd).
DepEd has scheduled an early Christmas break for students across all basic education levels in public schools nationwide this school year (SY) 2019-2020 in an effort to give both learners and teachers enough time to spend with their families during the holiday season.
All students in kindergarten, elementary, and high schools in public schools started enjoying early Christmas vacation which was officially scheduled on December 15, Sunday.
Based on DepEd Order No. 007 series of 2019 or the School Calendar for 2019-2020 issued by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, the Christmas vacation for public school will last until January 5, 2020 which falls on a Sunday. Thus, classes are scheduled to resume on the following day on Monday, January 6, 2020.
The DepEd clarified that for private schools, their respective school heads and administrators are given discretion to schedule their own Christmas breaks.
As cited in Republic Act No. 7797, “An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from Two Hundred Days to Not More than Two Hundred Twenty Class Day,” private schools may “deviate” from the calendar prescribed by DepEd and inform the regional office (ROs) of any changes in schedule in their respective school calendars. (Merlina Malipot)
