DepEd eyes trimester system for varsity yr 2026-2027

The Division of Training says the proposed system will meet the 201 faculty days for the following tutorial yr

MANILA, Philippines – The Division of Training (DepEd) is proposing a trimester system for college kids from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Training Secretary Sonny Angara defined that the proposal, which is being eyed for varsity yr 2026-2027, is a part of a “holistic method” for high quality training.

“Itinutulak natin ito upang magkaroon ng mas mahahabang, tuloy-tuloy na panahon ng pagkatuto, mas maayos na pacing ng mga aralin, at mas mababang administrative burden para sa ating mga guro,” he stated in an announcement on Friday, February 13.

(We’re pushing this for longer, steady studying time, higher curriculum pacing, and fewer administrative burden for our lecturers.)

Below the present system, the varsity yr begins in June and ends in March, with a mid-school yr break scheduled for the final week of October and a vacation break over the last two weeks of December. A college yr has 4 quarters. 

With the proposed system, the varsity yr will probably be divided into three tutorial phrases:

• first trimester – June to September
• second trimester – September to December
• third trimester – January to March

The DepEd stated the proposed system will meet the 201 faculty days for the following tutorial yr.

For every time period, there will probably be an tutorial block and an enrichment block.

The educational block will probably be 54 to 61 days, which will probably be “devoted to high quality instructing and studying time, with minimal disruption of non-academic actions.”

In the meantime, among the many actions that will probably be accomplished below the enrichment block will probably be “remediation and enrichment, grade computation, preparation and checking of college varieties, and wellness break.”

For the primary time period, there will probably be a gap block for actions associated to the opening of the varsity yr.

“Scheduled breaks between phrases may also present lecturers with time for planning, evaluation, {and professional} duties, serving to enhance total tutorial supply,” the DepEd stated.

DepEd’s proposal comes after the Second Congressional Committee on Training (EDCOM 2) flagged “worrying declines in proficiency” throughout key levels or in grades 3, 6, 10, and 12.

Observances to be built-in into classes

Furthermore, a part of the reform consists of incorporating mandated faculty actions and celebrations into classroom instruction to keep away from disruption of studying.

This might be within the type of integrating nationwide and cultural celebrations into studying supplies, writing workout routines, science discussions, and project-based studying, or holding shorter in-class reflection actions or discussions as an alternative of a whole day.

“DepEd knowledge present that the present calendar construction has contributed to compressed tutorial time, as colleges should accommodate quite a few mandated observances, reporting necessities, and administrative duties,” the company stated.

EDCOM 2 earlier stated that whereas actions and observances are worthwhile for a scholar’s studying, they take away time for core topics.

It famous that about 150 legislated actions “crowd an already shortened faculty yr.” – Rappler.com