MANILA, Feb. 6 (PNA) — The schools that have adjusted their academic calendars are presumed to have weighed the pros and cons of their decisions, Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. also noted that while the University of the Philippines (UP) is a government institution, it has its own charter.
“Ang binanggit na paaralan ay may kanya-kanyang charter (The schools have their own charters). UP is a government institution but it has its own charter,” Coloma said at a media briefing.
The Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines have approved a shift of the start of the academic calendar from June to August.
Coloma said there is nothing preventing these schools from adjusting their calendars.
“Siguro naman reasonable na isipin at sabihin na bago nila marating ang decision na yan pinagaralan nang mabuti (It would be reasonable to assume they studied their options well before arriving at their respective decisions),” he added.
He also said adjusting the school calendar is not new, noting this had been done during the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal, when Alejandro Roces was education secretary, though the start of the academic calendar was eventually reverted to June. (PNA)