(UPDATE) THE Department of Education (DepEd) said Saturday it is considering a transition to a trimestral system, noting it is a holistic approach to strategic curriculum implementation.
”We are pushing this so there will be longer and more flexible instructional periods, improved lesson pacing and lower administrative burden for teachers. In this way, we are improving the quality of education,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.
Angara added that the proposal is anchored on the findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education.
The trimestral system, he said, will divide the school year into three academic terms with longer instructional and enrichment blocks, enabling teachers to sustain lesson delivery without frequent interruptions.
For School Year 2026–2027, the 201 school days will be distributed in a way that provides longer uninterrupted teaching periods and allows for better pacing of lessons.
Scheduled breaks between terms will also provide teachers with time for planning, assessment and professional tasks, helping improve overall instructional delivery.
Based on the calendar framework, classes will open in early June, with the first trimester running from June to September. The second trimester will cover September to December, while the third trimester will run from January until late March, completing the 201 school days for the academic year.
Per term, there will be an instructional block of 54 to 61 days dedicated to quality teaching and learning time, with minimal disruption from nonacademic activities. There will also be an enrichment block allotted for remediation and enrichment, grade computation, preparation and checking of school forms, and wellness breaks, among others.
An opening block will also be implemented in the first term only for opening-of-school-year activities.
The reform would also promote “low-disruption alternatives” where mandated celebrations and observances are integrated into classroom instruction rather than requiring separate programs that interrupt lessons.
DepEd data showed that the current school calendar structure has contributed to compressed instructional time, as schools must accommodate numerous mandated observances, reporting requirements and administrative tasks.
Examples include incorporating national and cultural observances into reading materials, writing exercises, science discussions and project-based learning, allowing students to engage with civic themes while continuing their regular lessons.
Policy guidelines on the trimestral calendar will be issued following consultations with teachers, school leaders and other education stakeholders.
