The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, March 23, reaffirmed its strong support for the Cabinet-approved shift to a three-term school calendar beginning School Year (SY) 2026–2027, positioning the reform as a key step toward improving learning outcomes in Philippine basic education.

In a statement, DepEd said the move places quality teaching and learning at the center of the school system by restructuring how instructional time is delivered throughout the academic year.

“This reform strategically addresses long-standing systemic inefficiencies, such as the documented loss of up to 53 school days in SY 2023–2024,” DepEd said.

“By redesigning how time is structured in schools, the reform ensures learning,” the agency added.

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According to DepEd, the reform directly responds to long-standing inefficiencies, including the reported loss of over 50 school days in SY 2023–2024 due to disruptions and competing activities.

By reorganizing the school calendar, the department aims to ensure that classroom time is protected and optimized for instruction, allowing students to engage in more focused and sustained learning.

Under the three-term system, DepEd said the school year will begin with a five-day Opening Block dedicated to learner profiling, baseline assessments, and administrative preparations.

This is designed to ensure that formal instruction starts smoothly and without delays.

This will be followed by an Instructional Block of approximately 60 uninterrupted days, allowing teachers and students to focus on lessons without frequent interruptions.

A two-week End-of-Term Block will then consolidate activities, including school events and celebrations that previously disrupted regular classes.

The period will also be used for targeted remediation and enrichment programs, in-service teacher training, and wellness breaks for both learners and educators.

DepEd emphasized that shifting from the traditional four-quarter system to a three-term system will streamline grading cycles and reduce administrative workload.

“The shift from four quarters to three terms significantly streamlines grading cycles and reduces reporting peaks, easing the administrative burden and allowing educators to concentrate on what matters most—effective instruction,” DepEd said.

The agency noted that fewer grading periods will help ease reporting peaks, enabling teachers to devote more time to instruction rather than paperwork.

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DepEd said the reform is grounded in a multi-stage consultation process launched in January 2026, involving key stakeholders such as learners, teachers, school leaders, parents, and members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

DepEd said feedback from these groups helped shape the final design of the new academic calendar.

The three-term school calendar, DepEd said, is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at improving education quality nationwide.

DepEd cited several complementary initiatives, including accelerated classroom construction, expanded school-based feeding and nutrition programs, strengthened literacy interventions, the provision of textbooks for all learners, improved inter-agency policies on class suspensions, and a focus on meaningful learning time.

DepEd underscored that the reform was designed to make the school year more effective for both students and teachers.

“Ultimately, this reform is about making the school year work better for both learners and teachers, so that every day in school leads to deliberate and deep learning,” DepEd said.

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