Two top universities in Iloilo announced that they will start the next school year 2019-2020 in August.
West Visayas State University and Iloilo Science and Technology University, both with main campuses in Lapaz, Iloilo City, will heed the recommendation of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regarding the shift of academic calendar in the upcoming school year.
In a memorandum dated April 5, CHED ‘enjoined’ all state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) to begin academic year to August, instead of June.
WVSU president Luis Sorolla Sr. confirmed in a radio interview that they will implement the academic year shift. He said that it is pushed to align the school year with the budgeting scheme of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) especially now that Free Tuition Law is being implemented.
This will also enhance student mobility in the country and abroad, he added. The change in schedule of class opening also covers elementary and high school level, and all external campuses of WVSU.
For ISAT-U, Dr. Ma. Asusina Asuncion E. Echaveria, Director, Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS), said that their opening will now be in August also in accordance with CHED memorandum.
“All state universities and colleges will move the opening of classes on August 13, 2019,” said Echaveria, in an interview over RMN Iloilo.
“The enrollment for higher years will be in second week or third week of July, but for first year it will be as early as May,” she added.
CHED Memo
Although not a requirement, CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said that they are really encouraging all SUCs and LUCs to begin their school year in August instead of June.
Those who will choose to retain their class opening in June may experience delay in tuition and miscellaneous fees reimbursements from the government.
“The reimbursements may happen later than earlier because the timelines are not synchronized. They’ll still get it, but budgeting-wise, it won’t be as fast as it should and that is an implication in the operations of these universities,” de Vera said.
Aside from main campus in the city, WVSU has external campuses in Lambunao, Calinog, Janiuay, Pototan in Iloilo province, and Himamaylan in Negros. ISAT-U has Miag-ao, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, and Leon external campuses.
