School year 2026–2027 may adopt a three-term academic calendar after the Economy and Development Council (ED Council) approved the Department of Education (DepEd) proposal during a meeting chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday.
The reform seeks to replace the traditional four-quarter system with a three-grading-period format aimed at providing longer and more stable instructional periods.
Officials said the change is designed to maximize effective learning time, often disrupted by extreme weather conditions and frequent school activities.
A report by the Second Congressional Commission on Education noted that at least 150 legislated activities in public schools contribute to shortened instructional days.
Under the proposed calendar outlined by DepEd on February 13, the academic year will be divided into three terms: June to September, September to December, and January to March.
While the total number of school days will be reduced from the traditional 201, the new setup aims to provide longer teaching blocks and more time for extracurricular and recovery programs.
ED Council vice chairperson Arsenio Balisacan said the move is part of broader efforts to strengthen human capital development.
“Our commitment to developing a globally competitive workforce begins with providing evidence-based solutions to bridge educational gaps in our country. We commend DepEd for continuously pursuing initiatives that support critical development priorities,” Balisacan said.
However, the proposal has drawn criticism from Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines, which raised concerns over the lack of consultation with educators.
“Kung may pag-aaral na basehan ang panukalang ito, dapat malinaw itong inilalahad at sinusuri kasama ang mga guro,” said ACT Chair Ruby Bernardo.
“Hindi maaaring magpatupad ng malalaking pagbabago sa sistema ng paaralan nang walang makabuluhang konsultasyon sa mga direktang maaapektuhan,” she added.
The proposed shift has also drawn legislative attention, with Senator Bam Aquino, chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, conducting a hearing on March 3 to gather feedback from stakeholders.
With the policy now cleared by the ED Council, DepEd is expected to release detailed implementation guidelines in the coming months.
As of press time, the agency has yet to issue an official statement on the approval of the trimester shift.