Back to school: DepEd sets June 8 opening of classes for SY 2026–2027
By Dhel Nazario
The Department of Education (DepEd) has set June 8 as the opening of classes for School Year (SY) 2026–2027, under its new school calendar schedule issued through DepEd Order No. 009, s. 2026.
(Santi San Juan/MB file photo)
The school year will run until April 8 next year and will consist of 201 class days, covering Term 1 to Term 3 under the basic education calendar.
Issued on April 16, the order formally lays out the schedule for the upcoming school year as part of DepEd’s implementation of the Three-Term School Calendar in basic education.
Under the policy, DepEd said the calendar reform is intended to optimize instructional time, support more continuous learning, and strengthen the implementation of the Academic Recovery for Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.
The Department also said the shift is aligned with the Eight-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of President Marcos and DepEd’s Five-Point Reform Agenda.
DepEd noted that adjustments to the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances may be issued separately through subsequent directives, while annual school activity schedules will be released before the start of each school year.
Private schools, Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs), and state and local universities and colleges (SUCs and LUCs) may also adopt the Three-Term School Calendar for basic education, provided they comply with the required number of class days and school opening provisions under Republic Act No. 7797, as amended by Republic Act No. 11480.
The order also repeals DepEd Order No. 012, s. 2025, which previously contained multi-year school calendar guidelines, and amends provisions under DepEd Order No. 017, s. 2025 on enrollment policies. All inconsistent issuances are considered repealed, rescinded, or modified accordingly.
DepEd said the shift to a three-term system also seeks to address recurring class disruptions, compressed instructional time, increased teacher workload, and reduced learner engagement, particularly among vulnerable students.
President Marcos approved the adoption of a three-term school calendar for public schools beginning School Year 2026–2027, as part of efforts to improve learning continuity and outcomes.
The directive followed the recommendation of the Economic and Development Council during its eighth meeting at Malacañan on March 19.