DepEd: 3-term school calendar won’t add to teachers’ workload

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday pushed back against concerns over its planned shift to a three-term school calendar, insisting the reform will not add to teachers’ workload and will instead improve learning time.

Through a Facebook post, DepEd addressed circulating claims about increased paperwork, heavier workload, fewer breaks, and declining academic standards.

It said that the new structure actually provides dedicated time for grading and administrative tasks.

“Hindi ito dagdag na trabaho kundi mas maayos na oras ng pagtuturo at pag-aaral,” DepEd said.

(This is not additional work but a more organized allocation of time for teaching and learning.)

The agency also disputed claims that teachers’ workload would increase. Under the three-term system, DepEd said there will only be three grading cycles, which could make workload more manageable.

It also moved to allay concerns about reduced breaks, saying the calendar includes an end-of-term block for academic support, professional development, and wellness. It added that mandatory breaks will remain in place.

On concerns about academic standards, DepEd said these will not be lowered despite fewer grading periods.

Instead, the department said longer and uninterrupted instructional time would allow deeper learning and improved mastery of competencies.

“Hindi magbabago ang academic standards,” it said.

(Academic standards will not change.)

The agency also pointed to built-in buffer days at the end of each term to help schools address class disruptions.

DepEd is set to implement the three-term school calendar as part of broader reforms aimed at improving instructional time and reducing recurring disruptions in the academic year.

Under this, 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. — BM, GMA Integrated News