DepEd backs shift to three-term school calendar starting SY 2026–2027

The Department of Education (DepEd) has endorsed the implementation of a three-term school calendar beginning School Year 2026–2027, positioning the reform as a key step toward improving learning outcomes and addressing long-standing inefficiencies in the basic education system.

The proposed calendar restructures the academic year into three terms, each designed to ensure more focused and uninterrupted teaching, while reducing disruptions that have historically affected classroom instruction.

This comes after DepEd documented the loss of up to 53 school days in School Year 2023–2024, underscoring the need to redesign how instructional time is organized in schools.

Under the new setup, the school year will begin with a five-day “Opening Block” dedicated to learner profiling, baseline assessments, and administrative preparations. This aims to ensure that once formal classes begin, teaching can proceed without interruptions.

This will be followed by an “Instructional Block” of around 60 days of continuous teaching and learning. 

Activities and celebrations that previously disrupted class time will instead be consolidated into a two-week “End-of-Term Block,” which will also be used for remediation and enrichment programs for students, as well as training and wellness activities for teachers.

DepEd said the shift from four academic quarters to three terms will streamline grading cycles and reduce administrative workload, allowing teachers to focus more on instruction.

The department also noted that the reform was developed through consultations conducted since January 2026, involving learners, teachers, school leaders, parents, and other stakeholders, as well as members of Congress.

The three-term calendar is part of a broader set of reforms aimed at improving education outcomes nationwide. These include accelerated classroom construction, expanded school feeding and nutrition programs, intensified literacy interventions, the provision of textbooks, and improved policies on class suspensions.

The Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., last week approved the DepEd's proposed three-term school calendar starting in School Year 2026–2027.

In a statement, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the approval was made during the council’s eighth meeting on Thursday, March 19.

The council described the move as “a critical step toward improving the country’s education outcomes."

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) meanwhile opposed the government’s newly-approved shift to a three-term school calendar, calling it a “rushed” reform that purportedly fails to address deeper problems in the education sector.

According to ACT, the policy reflects a pattern of top-down decision-making that sidelines teachers in major education reforms.

ACT cited persistent problems such as classroom shortages, low wages, heavy workloads, and lack of learning materials.

The group also questioned the basis for the policy, saying there is no clear public evidence supporting the shift.

ACT warned that teachers may once again bear the burden of adjusting workloads and implementing changes without adequate support. —KG, GMA Integrated News