Bam Aquino wants Senate to look into DepEd's trimester school calendar plan

Senator Bam Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, wants the Senate to conduct a hearing into the proposed plan of the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement a trimestral system for School Year 2026-2027.

"Sisiguraduhin natin na may Senate Hearing tungkol sa repormang ito, para suriin at pag-usapan ito," Aquino said in a statement issued Sunday.

(We will make sure there will be a Senate hearing about this reform, to probe into it and discuss it.)

"Bago ipatupad ng DepEd ang trimestral system, mahalagang sumailalim ito sa  malawakang konsultasyon," the senator said.

(Before the DepEd implements the trimestral system, it is important that it will be subjected to broad consultation.)

Aquino said the Senate committee supports the DepEd in its proposals for reforms, but any move should be thoroughly studied.

"Suportado ng Committee of Basic Education ang mga panukala't reporma na tutugon sa learning gap at tutulong sa mga guro, na sa kasakukuyan ay overloaded sa non-teaching tasks," he said.

(The Committee of Basic Education is supportive of the proposals and reforms meant to address the learning gap and to help teachers who are currently overloaded with non-teaching tasks.)

"Bagaman kinikilala natin ang pangangailangan para sa malawakang reporma, siguraduhin natin na hindi ito gawin ng padalus-dalos at dumaan nga sa tamang konsultasyon," Aquino added.

(Although we acknowledge the need for broad reforms, let us make sure that these will not be implemented rashly, but should undergo the right consultation.)

The DepEd earlier said it is looking into implementing a trimester system for the incoming school year 2026-2027.

The move is part of a “holistic approach” to balanced time management for students that allows for a more flexible approach to quality teaching," it said.

“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. —KG, GMA Integrated News