DepEd: Private schools not required to adopt 3-term calendar

Private schools will not be required to adopt the Department of Education’s (DepEd) planned three-term school calendar, with Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasizing that they will continue to enjoy flexibility in setting their own academic schedules.

In an ambush interview in Batasan Hills National High School on Wednesday, Angara clarified that while the three-term structure will be implemented in public schools, private institutions may choose whether to follow it.

“Mas maluwag talaga sa private schools. They are free to have their own school year and instruction, basta sumusunod sila sa curriculum at minimum number of school days,” he said.

(Private schools have greater flexibility. They are free to set their own school year and instruction, as long as they follow the curriculum and the minimum number of school days.)

He added that many private schools have already adopted a three-term setup.

Not a ‘trimester’ system

Amid confusion, Angara stressed that the three-term calendar is not the same as a trimester system.

He explained that in a trimester setup, subjects may vary per term, while the three-term model simply divides the academic year into grading periods with the same subjects throughout.

“Ang trimester, kada term iba-ibang subjects. Sa three-term, grading period lang siya—pareho lang ang subjects,” he said.

(In a trimester system, subjects change every term. In a three-term setup, it is simply a grading period with the same subjects throughout.) 

Flexible learning options eyed

The DepEd chief also said the agency is considering flexible learning arrangements for private schools, particularly in response to possible disruptions such as rising energy costs.

“We are giving them flexibility… puwedeng mag in-person, puwedeng work from home, o hybrid (setup),” Angara said.

(We are giving them flexibility… they may choose in-person, work-from-home, or a hybrid setup.)

Balancing reform and autonomy

DepEd is set to roll out the three-term calendar as part of efforts to improve the use of instructional time and reduce disruptions in the school year.

However, Angara emphasized that the department will continue to recognize the operational independence of private schools, provided they comply with curriculum standards and required school days.

Earlier, teachers’ group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) disputed the DepEd’s claim that educators were "widely consulted" on the shift to a three-term school calendar.

“If there was truly broad consultation, why were so many teachers surprised by such a major policy shift?” ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo asked.

“An orientation cascade cannot be equated with meaningful participation of teachers in policymaking,” she added.

DepEd earlier said the proposed three-term school calendar—set to begin in School Year 2026–2027—was developed through multi-level consultations involving teachers, school leaders, parents, and other stakeholders.

However, ACT maintained that the process fell short of genuine engagement, describing it as "top-down" rather than participatory.

Calendar

Under the three-term school calendar, classes are expected to begin in early June, with the first term running from June to September, the second term from September to December, and the third term from January to late March.

Each term will include an instructional block lasting around 54 to 61 days focused on continuous teaching and learning, with minimal disruption from non-academic activities.

These will be complemented by designated enrichment blocks for remediation, assessment, grading, lesson planning, and wellness breaks for both teachers and learners. A dedicated opening block will also be implemented at the start of the school year for learner profiling, baseline assessments, and administrative preparation.

DepEd has said the reform aims to improve the use of instructional time, citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) showing that up to 53 out of 180 school days in School Year 2023–2024 were lost due to weather disturbances and other non-instructional interruptions.

DepEd also stressed that the reform is intended to ease teacher workload by streamlining grading cycles and scheduling administrative tasks within designated periods, reducing overlap with teaching responsibilities. — BM, GMA Integrated News