Persuasive Speech

Academic Calendar Shift

I.

Introduction
In 2014, some universities in our country have announced that they are changing their
academic calendars to better align these with universities abroad. The academic calendar shift has
started to push through this school-year, 2014-2015, and will continue to make adjustments until
the academic calendars align with foreign counterparts. The shift will be from a June-March
school-year to an August-May school-year.
A. Issue: The proposal to move the academic year from the traditional June-March to
August-May garnered a lot of positive and negative commentaries from the students
and the professors. This is the country's response to the call for ASEAN mobility.
B. Thesis statement: Although the academic calendar shift has already been
implemented, we still believe that we should not have adapted this because it will cut
off the school cycle from the work-life cycle of the majority of Filipinos and their
families.

II.

It is undemocratic.
A. The policy on the academic calendar shift was pushed through despite the lack
substantial studies and proper consultations.
B. Opinions of most students, parents, and professors regarding the shift were not
enquired.

III.

The shift does not necessarily internationalize the countrys colleges and universities.
A. There are other more important issues to handle such as the quality of students and
whether or not this is at par with international standards.
B. While the shift would provide more opportunities for students to study abroad, it
would benefit only a few who can afford to go on exchange programs.
C. ASEAN Integration also does not require the universities to align their calendars with
those of other Southeast Asian nations.

IV.

There will be more expenses.

A. The possibility of tuition increase in order for universities to align with international
standards.
B. Students could be charged with additional fees for structural changes, such as waiting
sheds, cooling fans and air-conditioning units, to make classrooms conducive for
learning despite the high heat during summer months.

C. Schools like the University of Santo Tomas provided their students with Type B or
summer uniform for the scorching month of summer.
V.

It does not suit actual Philippine conditions.

A. It defies logic to claim that a shift in academic calendar will reduce the number of
class suspensions due to bad weather; June to August is recognized as the rainiest
months but the strongest storms come after August.
B. The majority of Filipino household incomes are inextricably linked to the countrys
agricultural cycles of planting and harvest. The farming and fishing communities
would have difficulty with an August school opening because agricultural cycles
cause them to run out of financial resources in August; a June start is most feasible.
C. In our country, April and May are the hottest months; learning becomes a difficulty
during this season.
D. Breaks will be moved to different dates/seasons.
1. The semestral break will fall on the Christmas season.
2. Breaks of college students will not coincide with primary and secondary
education students.
3. There will be no summer break.
4. Holy week will have to be celebrated during the semester.

VI.

Conclusion
We conclude that the academic calendar shift is unnecessary and still needs to be studied
further for it greatly affects most of the Filipinos, especially the students and the professors
personal and family time, as well as their finance.