The Department of Education on Tuesday rejected calls for an academic break.
DepED said easing the academic load of students is a better alternative amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Students have always been calling for an academic break but we in the Department are of the belief that academic ease is better,” Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said.
“‘We don’t need to stop the classes. What we need is to be more considerate to the situation of every student,” he added.
Lack of access to technology should not be a reason to stop classes, he said, as there are available printed self-learning modules.
He urged teachers to refrain from giving tight deadlines.
“We understand the challenges and some are saying that they are loaded with lots of school work. That’s why our call, and based on DepEd guidelines, is to ease the deadlines for the requirements,” he said.
Earlier, Senate Basic Education Committee chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian also thumbed down calls for a nationwide academic break.