The Department of Education (DepEd) said Thursday that it will release an adjusted school calendar for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 after moving the school opening from Aug. 24 to Oct. 5.
“We will release (an) adjusted school calendar soon,” DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio said.
He noted that certain activities and programs -- which are being held and observed every year such as the National Teachers’ Month celebration from Sept. 5 to Oct. 5, among others -- may be conducted on other dates.
In anticipation of the original school opening date which was supposedly on Aug. 24, DepEd issued the school calendar for SY 2020-2021 in May in DepEd Order No. 007, Series of 2020.
The guidelines were issued to “ensure that the number of class days required for curriculum operations and school-related activities are complied with and standard school events and celebrations/observances are being conducted during the school year to ensure quality teaching and holistic learning.”
Following the deferment of Aug. 24 school opening, DepEd said that it will push for an extended school calendar for SY 2020-2021. San Antonio underscored the need for DepEd to make certain adjustments in the school calendar and activities after the school opening was postponed anew.
Based on the tentative school calendar, the first day of classes will be on Oct. 5 and the last day of classes for this school year is on June 16, 2021. Christmas vacation for this school year is also scheduled to start on Dec. 20, 2020 and classes will resume Jan. 3.
As mandated and required by existing laws, San Antonio said that there will be a total of 200 school days for SY 2020-2021.