DepEd Floats Shift to Trimester System to Reform School Calendar

The Department of Education (DepEd) is proposing a major overhaul of the country’s school calendar through the adoption of a trimester system, a move officials say is aimed at improving learning quality while easing the workload of teachers.

Under the proposal, the academic year would be divided into three learning blocks, or trimesters, instead of the traditional structure currently used in most public schools. Each term would be separated by regular breaks, a feature that proponents argue could help both students and teachers recover from academic fatigue and maintain more consistent performance throughout the year.

According to the education department’s leadership, the trimester system is designed to improve pacing and instruction. By breaking the school year into three more manageable segments, schools could better sequence lessons, allow more focused coverage of topics, and provide timely remediation or enrichment activities between terms. The approach is also seen as a way to introduce greater flexibility in instructional time, enabling schools to adjust schedules to local needs and learning conditions.

One of the central arguments behind the proposal is its potential impact on teachers. The department says the new structure could help reduce teacher workload by spreading assessments, lesson planning, and administrative tasks more evenly across the year, rather than concentrating them into long, exhausting stretches. With clearer term boundaries, educators may also find it easier to track student progress and intervene earlier when learning gaps appear.

For students, the promised benefits include more focused learning periods and better balance between schoolwork and rest. Supporters of the reform believe that shorter, well-defined terms can help sustain attention and motivation, while the scheduled breaks may contribute to improved well-being and readiness to learn.

The proposal is being framed as part of a broader “holistic school calendar reform,” signaling that it is not just a change in dates but a rethinking of how time is used in schools. Education officials emphasize that the ultimate goal is “higher quality education” delivered through smarter scheduling, better pacing, and a more sustainable workload for teachers.

While the plan is still at the proposal stage, it has already sparked discussion among educators, parents, and policymakers. Key questions remain about implementation, alignment with existing curricula, and how the transition would affect examinations, school operations, and family schedules.

If adopted, the trimester system would mark one of the most significant changes to the Philippine school calendar in recent years—one that could reshape how teaching and learning are organized across the public education system.

---

Key Points Summary

• DepEd is proposing a shift to a trimester system as part of school calendar reform.
• The school year would be divided into three learning blocks with regular breaks in between.
• The reform aims to improve pacing and instruction and make learning more focused.
• It is also intended to reduce teacher workload by distributing tasks more evenly across the year.
• Students are expected to benefit from better balance, rest periods, and sustained motivation.
• The proposal is still under discussion, with implementation details yet to be finalized.