The Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed shift to a trimestral system should undergo broad consultations before implementation to ensure thorough review and Senate oversight, Senator Bam Aquino said on Sunday.
“Although we recognize the need for broad reforms, we must ensure they are not implemented hastily and go through proper consultation,” he said.
DepEd is considering the trimester system for public schools starting school year 2026–2027 to allow longer instructional periods and reduce teachers’ non-teaching workload.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the plan aims to organize the academic year more efficiently and follows recommendations from the Second Congressional Commission on Education.
Under the proposal, the school year would have three terms totaling 201 days, with scheduled breaks for planning, assessment, and professional tasks. Each term would include uninterrupted teaching blocks of 54 to 61 days, plus enrichment periods for remediation, grade computation, and wellness activities.
The first term would run from June to September, the second from September to December, and the third from January to late March. Private schools may set their own schedules, while public schools would follow a nationwide calendar. DepEd said consultations are ongoing and refinements will be made based on stakeholder feedback.
