EDCOM 2 open to trimestral school calendar in basic education

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said Sunday that it is open to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposal to implement a trimester system for the 2026–2027 school year.

EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee, however, emphasized that it is important to ensure everyone is ready before implementation.

“So hindi po tayo against sa trimester proposal. Kailangan lang pong siguruhin na handa yung ground, maayos ang consultation, natanong lahat ng teachers at ready talaga,” he told Super Radyo dzBB.

(We are not against the trimester proposal. We just need to ensure that the ground [level] is prepared, consultations are handled properly, all teachers are consulted, and everyone is truly ready.)

DepEd earlier described the trimester system as a “holistic approach” to promoting balanced time management for students.

Under the proposal, the 201 school days in a year would be divided into three terms, each including continuous and curated lessons and tasks.

The first term would run from June to September, the second from September to December, and the final term from January to March.

EDCOM 2 said the system could help address the loss of learning days caused by class suspensions and required celebrations.

“Kung maalala natin, in the last three years sa EDCOM, lagi natin kinukwento yung kawalan ng araw sa pagkatuto. Nakita natin yung datos pagdating sa classroom suspensions dahil sa rami ng bagyo, heat index," he said.

(If we recall, in the last three years at EDCOM, we have always been talking about the loss of learning days.) 

"So nakikita natin na 30 to 50 days sa isang school year ang nawawala dahil sa suspension ng klase,” Yee added.

(We have seen that 30 to 50 days in a school year are lost due to class suspensions.)

He noted that while the law requires roughly 200 school days, actual class days often drop to 150 or fewer.

“Sa pamamagitan ng mas mahahabang oras, sa pamamagitan ng trimester, makaka-save ng ilang araw, at yung pagkatuto talagang siguro mas makukumpleto yung mga lessons na kailangan ituro. So isa pong advantage ‘yun,” Yee said.

(Through longer hours and the trimester system, we can save a few days, and learning—perhaps the lessons that need to be taught—will be more complete. So that is one advantage.)

“Pero ang mahalaga po kung gagawin ‘yun ay handa yung mga guro, handa yung mga materyales. Kasi yung curriculum guide ng DepEd ngayon ay quarterly pa rin,” he added.

(But what’s important, if that is implemented, is that the teachers are ready and the materials are ready. Because DepEd’s current curriculum guide is still [designed] quarterly.)—MCG, GMA Integrated News