DepEd proposes trimester system for school year 2026-2027

The Department of Education (DepEd) is looking into implementing a trimester system for the incoming school year 2026-2027.

According to a statement, the move is part of a “holistic approach” to balanced time management for students that allows for a more flexible approach to quality teaching.

“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,” said DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara.

(We are proposing this so we can have longer and continuous periods of learning, a more appropriate pacing of study, and a lower administrative burden for our teachers. In this way, we can be assured of a quality of education.)

The trimester system shall divide 201 school days into three terms, each of which shall include continuous and curated lessons and tasks for students.

The first term shall be held from June to September, followed by the second term from September to December, and the final term from January to March—with each term having 54 to 61 days of instruction with minor interruptions for non-academic activities and enrichment blocks.

The department said that it will release policy guidelines regarding the trimester calendar in the coming days, following consultations with the necessary stakeholders.

Meanwhile, DepEd is also pushing for “low-disruption alternatives,” wherein celebrations and observances can be integrated into actual class outputs instead of separate programs that disrupt schooling. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News