New Senate Bill seeks to Ban Classes that start earlier than 8:30 a.m.

Greg Gasataya, Bacolod Rep., filed bill stating a ban for classes that begin earlier than 8:30 a.m. under the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education (DepEd).

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Greg Gasataya / Photo from his office

According to Gasataya, school hours should start not earlier than 8:30 a.m. because of the “state of transportation, amount of workload under the new K-12 curriculum, state of mental health in the country, and accessibility of schools especially in rural areas which are just some of the conditions prejudicial to the health and safety of Filipino students.”

If this bill pushes through it would further help parents who need to wake up early to help their children prepare for school, Gasataya mentioned.

It was also argued that other countries had later class hours and some studies show that later school starting hours will improve student performances as shared by a lawmaker, a vice-chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education in the 17th Congress.

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Source: “Home Time” by Brian Evans – Under Creative Commons license

“It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development in schools. We must give priority to the physical, mental, and social well-being of students, among others, through a system of education which gives primordial interest and concern to the health and safety of students,” Gasataya added in a statement, according to Inquirer.

Other than banning classes to start earlier than 8:30 a.m., Gasataya’s pet bills include: House Bill No. 568, which aims to provide a comprehensive scholarship for persons with disabilities and their children, and House Bill No. 573, which seeks to recruit, hire, and train additional mental health personnel in state universities and colleges.

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