Palace Says DepEd’s Trimester Plan Still in Early Review Stage

MANILA — The proposal to shift the country’s basic education system to a trimester academic calendar is still undergoing internal review, Malacañang said, noting that the idea has yet to move beyond the exploratory phase.

Presidential Press Officer Claire Castro explained that the Department of Education (DepEd) has only begun presenting the concept, including its possible benefits, but stressed that no policy decision has been made.

She said the government wants to ensure that any major change to the school calendar is backed by careful study, particularly in terms of its impact on students, teachers, and school operations.

Castro added that the Palace sees value in conducting broader discussions before taking any concrete steps, especially as education groups have called for consultations on the proposal.

According to her, gathering inputs from various sectors will help shape a more effective and responsive education program for learners.

DepEd earlier raised the idea of moving to a trimester system as part of efforts to improve learning delivery and address issues linked to the current academic calendar. For now, however, Malacañang emphasized that the proposal remains under evaluation and is not yet set for implementation.