Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Children attend classes at the Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School in Manila on the first day of classes on August 22, 2022. Thousands of students flocked to schools today as face-to-face classes resumed today after two years of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SCHOOL OPENING

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177183181847220220822-school-opening-manila-aurora-GC-41.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Children attend classes at the Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School in Manila on the first day of classes on August 22, 2022. Thousands of students flocked to schools today as face-to-face classes resumed today after two years of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday told lawmakers that its proposed shift from the current four-quarter academic calendar to a “three-term school year” remains under consultation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/16/proposals-for-ph-to-shift-to-trimestral-school-year-needs-to-be-further-studied-palace-1631">Proposals for PH to shift to trimestral school year needs to be further studied: Palace</a></div><p>During the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture hearing, DepEd Undersecretary for Learning Systems Strand Carmela Oracion stressed that the proposal, often publicly referred to as a “trimester”, is still in its proposal stage and has not been finalized for implementation in School Year 2026 to 2027.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/17/deped-proposed-trimester-system-not-yet-final-1347">DepEd: Proposed trimester system not yet final, consultations ongoing</a></div><p>“The reform is designated to create an environment that prioritizes teaching and learning, cultivates character through well-planned co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and strengthens the learner&#x27;s overall well-being. This is on the proposal stage, Mr. Chair, and consultations are currently ongoing,” Oracion said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/11/-how-have-we-allowed-this-marcos-to-dedicate-remainder-of-term-to-fixing-education-1201">&#x27;How have we allowed this?&#x27;: Marcos to dedicate remainder of term to fixing education</a></div><p>She clarified that DepEd deliberately avoids using the term “trimester” to prevent confusion with higher education systems.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FREQUENT TRANSITIONS<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>According to DepEd, the proposal does not alter the academic calendar, which will still run from June to March, nor does it change the total number of school days, which remains at 201. Instead, the department argues that the current four-quarter setup causes frequent transitions that disrupt actual classroom instruction.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/19/marcos-jr-reiterates-promise-no-school-teacher-will-retire-as-teacher-1-1334">Marcos Jr. reiterates promise: &#x27;No school teacher will retire as Teacher 1&#x27;</a></div><p>“Current four-quarter calendar creates frequent academic transitions, compressed grading cycles, and recurring disruptions. And even when the statutory number of days is met, actual instructional flow is repeatedly interrupted,” Oracion said.</p><p>A key feature of the proposal is the introduction of a two-week break after every term.</p><p>DepEd said these breaks are intended for remediation, enrichment, teacher in-service training, wellness activities, and the scheduling of major school events such as Palarong Pambansa, the National Festival of Talents, and the National Schools Press Conference.</p><p>However, several lawmakers questioned why such scheduling reforms could not be done within the existing four-quarter system.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/27/decades-old-plight-newer-challenges-loom-as-philippines-enters-new-school-year-1006">Decades-old plight, newer challenges loom as Philippines enters new school year</a></div><p>“Why can&#x27;t you do that now with four quarters? That&#x27;s the basic question,” said Basic Education and Culture Committee chairperson Representative Roman Romulo.</p><p>He warned that placing remediation during the supposed breaks undermines their purpose and fails to address the problem of students remaining in classes they cannot yet comprehend.</p><p>“So, during the regular class hours, a grade 4 student who is not grade 4 reading ready will remain in that class? So, wala rin mangyayari sa kanya, hindi rin niya maintindihan. Hihintayin niya na matapos iyong sem. So you&#x27;re not fixing the problem, actually,” Romulo said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SKEPTICAL</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Teachers’ groups echoed these concerns, arguing that consultations were insufficient and that many educators remain unconvinced the three-term system will reduce their workload.</p><p>Ruby Bernardo of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said their own survey of 10,000 teachers nationwide showed widespread skepticism.</p><p>“Batay po talaga sa survey na ginawa namin, composing of 10,000 teachers across Philippines po, sinasabi na 61 percent po dito talaga ay hindi pa kumbinsido at sigurado kung makakatulong po ito,” Bernardo said.</p><p>She added that 80 percent of respondents doubted the proposal would actually reduce teachers’ workload, citing lesson restructuring, school forms aligned to four grading periods, incomplete learning materials, and the burden of adjustment.</p><p>A private school representative, however, testified that a semestral setup adopted during the pandemic helped lighten the load for both students and teachers by limiting the number of subjects taught per term.</p><p>“Napakagaan po. Kasi iyong first semester, ang tinuro namin, tatlong subject lang... Na-lighten iyong kanilang daily learning materials, na-lighten din iyong sa teachers, and then, it was very successful,” Ma. Lourdes Chua, a private school official said.</p><p>In response to the criticism, Oracion acknowledged the concerns and committed to submitting a more detailed timetable and intervention plan to Congress by next week. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mkbCmKxb-OI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XEk2GHIlDg4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The department argues that the current four-quarter setup causes frequent transitions that disrupt actual classroom instruction.</p>

The department argues that the current four-quarter setup causes frequent transitions that disrupt actual classroom instruction.

DepEd’s ‘three-term school year’ proposal draws scrutiny, pushback at House hearing

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DepEd’s ‘three-term school year’ proposal draws scrutiny, pushback at House hearing

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 23, 2026 03:31 PM PHT

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