DepEd: Trimester calendar up to private schools

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March 27, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Private schools are free to have their own calendar structures, according to Education Secretary Sonny Angara, amid the statement of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) that private schools are not required to adopt the three-term school calendar.

“Private schools are not really covered. Even in the school year, they don’t follow it, they have flexibility. The DepEd (Department of Education) graduation is on March 30 and 31, private schools don’t, others in May, in June, so private schools are really more flexible,” Angara said in a chance interview in Quezon City.

COCOPEA managing director Joseph Noel Estrada said that while some private schools are implementing the scheme, a law is necessary to cover all schools offering basic education.

Under the three-term school calendar, the first term will run from June to September, the second from September to December and the third from January to March. It will be implemented in public schools beginning school year 2026-2027.

Defending its implementation, the DepEd said the policy is the result of exhaustive, multi-level consultations with teachers, school leaders, parents, learners and representatives from both public and private education amid criticisms from teachers’ groups.

The National Association of Public Secondary School Heads Inc. (NAPSSHI) backed its implementation, saying it is a strategic reform to strengthen public education.

NAPSSHI president Roland dela Cruz said the shift will improve learning distribution, promote mastery, reduce fatigue and support mental wellness.

The Philippine Elementary School Principals Association also supported the three-term school calendar.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) rejected DepEd’s defense of the three-term school calendar, saying the claimed consultations do not reflect the actual experience of teachers on the ground.

ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo said many teachers were caught off guard by the announcement, contradicting DepEd’s assertion that the policy was the product of extensive consultations.

Saving energy in schools

As the Middle East war spawns a fuel crisis, Angara has ordered all schools to implement energy conservation measures in schools.

Angara signed DepEd Memorandum 22 on March 25 mandating all government agencies to implement measures to reduce electricity and fuel consumption.

According to him, all personnel should ensure strict compliance with established energy-efficiency measures, including the judicious use of lighting, proper management of ventilation and cooling systems and the regular monitoring of electrical equipment usage.