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The Department of Education (DepEd) is shifting from the four-quarter system to 3-term school calendar for basic education, that is according to DepEd Order No. 9 series of 2026.
The move seeks to address problems such as recurring class disruptions that compress instructional time and contribute to learning gaps, increase teacher workload, and reduce learning arrangement, especially among vulnerable learners.
DepEd said, “To address these challenges, the Department is adopting the Three-Term School Calendar to support more continuous learning, provide longer, and more flexible instructional periods, reduce ancillary and non-teaching-related tasks of teachers, and ensure more manageable teaching workloads.”
The changes in the school calendar will take effect starting school opening on June 9 and seeks to optimize instructional time, a strategies move for school activities, and better implementation of the ARAL program.
DepEd further says that the reform seeks to strengthen the quality of instruction and advance improved and more equitable learning outcomes for all learners.
Under the new setup, academic year will be divided into three terms, each consisting of an opening, instructional, and end-of-form phase.
| TERM 1 | TERM 2 | TERM 3 |
| Opening Block (June 8-11, 2026) | ||
| Instructional Period (June 15 to September 1) | Instructional Period (September 16-December) | Instructional period (January 4-March 23, 2027) |
| End-of-term activities (September 2-15) | End-of-term (December 7-18) | End-of-term activities (March 24-April 8) |
Private schools, meanwhile, may adopt the new school calendar, provided they comply with the required number of school days set by the department.
In a dzMM interview, DepEd OIC-Undersecretary Carmela Oracion has emphasized that the reform will not add costs for parents and is aimed at protecting instructional time.
“There are no expenses (for parents) because we are simply reorganizing the school year. The school year still begins on the same date, and will end on the same date, so cost-wisem the three-term school calendar has no cost for parents and for learners.”
