DepEd Announces Orientation Schedule for 3-Term School Calendar

The Department of Education (DepEd) will roll out a series of orientation sessions beginning this April to prepare school leaders, teachers, and other education stakeholders for the implementation of the three-term school calendar in school year 2026-2027.

In an advisory, DepEd said the orientations are intended to provide schools with clear guidance and help ensure a smooth and stable transition as preparations for the next academic year get underway.

The department said the shift to a three-term school year is part of its broader effort to improve the quality of basic education, strengthen instructional planning, and better support schools in delivering the K-12 curriculum.

DepEd said the briefings will tackle policies and operational changes tied to the new calendar, including assessment and grading, lesson planning, education in emergencies, flexible learning programs, and work immersion under the Strengthened Senior High School Program.

Orientation Schedules

According to the department, the orientation sessions will start in April following the release of the relevant policies, with regional and division officials as well as school heads attending first.

Sessions for master teachers and classroom teachers are scheduled in May.

DepEd said the arrangement is meant to allow teachers to fully enjoy their 30-day break in April and ensure they will not be asked to report for work during their rest period.

Under the proposed three-term school calendar, the first term will run from June to September, the second from September to December, and the third from January to March.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara also clarified that private schools may continue to follow their own academic calendar structures, after the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations said they are not required to adopt the three-term system.

At the same time, Catholic education groups expressed concern over the planned shift, warning that the education sector may not yet be fully prepared for its rollout in SY 2026-2027.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education said the proposed change would require more than simply adjusting the school schedule.