The Department of Education (DepEd) is proposing a shift to a trimester-based academic calendar for the school year 2026-2027.
Photo: Department of Education
In a press release dated February 13, 2026, DepEd said the proposed change is part of a “holistic approach” to education. The department aims to balance academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities while maintaining the quality of instruction.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the move aims to provide longer, more continuous learning periods, better lesson pacing, and a reduced administrative burden for teachers.
“Itinutulak natin ito upang magkaroon ng mas mahahabang, tuloy-tuloy na panahon ng pagkatuto, mas maayos na pacing ng mga aralin, at mas mababang administrative burden para sa ating mga guro. Sa ganitong paraan, napapangalagaan natin ang kalidad ng edukasyon,” Angara said.
Under the proposal, the 201-day school year will be divided into three academic terms:
-
First trimester: June to September
-
Second trimester: September to December
-
Third trimester: January to late March
Each term is designed to include 54 to 61 days of uninterrupted instruction. These will be supplemented by enrichment blocks intended for teacher administrative work, student remediation, and wellness breaks.
According to DepEd, teachers are often pulled away from classroom instruction due to events and paperwork. The proposed setup seeks to address this by integrating celebrations and special observances into regular lessons—such as reading activities, science discussions, and project-based work—instead of holding whole-day events that suspend classes.
The department noted that schools may conduct shorter reflection activities, thematic discussions, or curriculum-linked projects within regular class hours to avoid disrupting academic instruction.
Formal policy guidelines on the proposed trimester system are expected to be released soon.
ALSO READ: LOOK: Ruffa Gutierrez Is Back In School at 51
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com’s Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com community at WIM Squad, and join our Viber group to stay updated with the latest around the Philippines and beyond!
