DepEd starts public consultations on trimester system

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February 18, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is continuing consultations on the proposed shift to a trimester school calendar, following Malacañang’s directive to ensure extensive dialogues with stakeholders before any implementation.

“We started (the consultations) and it is ongoing,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday told The STAR.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace supports calls for broad public consultation on the proposal.

“The feedback is very good,” Angara added.

DepEd emphasized that the trimester system remains a proposal and no final decision has been made.

“The Department of Education acknowledges the concerns raised by our legislators, teachers and stakeholders. We take these views seriously as we acknowledge that structural reform and systemic issues, such as classroom shortage and teacher welfare, are not mutually exclusive,” the agency said in a statement.

The proposed calendar aims to divide the school year into three terms with longer instructional and enrichment blocks, allowing uninterrupted lesson delivery, reducing teacher workload and improving the pacing of instruction.

Under the plan for School Year 2026-2027, the 201 school days would run from early June to late March: the first trimester from June to September, the second from September to December and the third from January to March.

Scheduled breaks between terms are intended to provide teachers with time for planning, assessment and other professional tasks.

Formal policy guidelines will be issued following consultations with teachers, school leaders and other education stakeholders.

Thorough study

Amid the consultations, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) urged DepEd to ensure a thorough study of the proposed shift.

“We recognize the need for reforms to improve learning conditions, but any proposal as significant as shifting to a trimester system must undergo genuine consultation with stakeholders, especially teachers, parents and learners and be backed by a comprehensive study before it is implemented or even publicly declared,” said TDC national chairman Benjo Basas.

He stressed that teachers, who will face changes in workload, scheduling and classroom delivery, must be involved in policy discussions alongside parents and students who will also be affected.

Basas added that teacher welfare should remain a top priority, noting that proposals to increase salaries – particularly the call for a P15,000 across-the-board increase – should be considered in congressional deliberations.

Sen. Bam Aquino, meanwhile, said DepEd already has the authority to implement the trimester system through an administrative order without the need for legislation.

“I just want to clarify: they don’t need a law to change our school year. They can do it through an administrative order,” Aquino said in an Unang Balita interview.

He stressed that before the proposal is implemented, diverse perspectives from teachers, parents and students should be heard to ensure smooth execution. — Neil Jayson Servallos