Private schools are not required to adopt the three-term school
calendar that will be implemented in public schools beginning School
Year (SY) 2026-2027, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational
Associations (COCOPEA) said.
In an interview with radio dzBB
on Tuesday, March 24, COCOPEA managing director Joseph Noel Estrada
said that while some private schools are already implementing the
scheme, a law is necessary to cover all schools offering basic
education.
“A one-size-fits-all (policy) should be really studied carefully. If that’s the plan, a law is really necessary,” Estrada said.
He noted that the three-term school calendar works for some institutions but may not be suitable for all.
“Ideally,
actually it’s good. If you noticed, the well-known schools, the big
ones and known for their quality basic education, were the first to
implement that three-term school calendar. Just like before, the
well-known schools have Grade 7, so it works for them, but again it’s
not for everyone,” Estrada explained.
He added that public schools may find it easier to implement the reform.
“It
is easier for public schools because the Department of Education is
just one system composed of around 47,000 schools, so it’s easier for
them to roll it out rather than in a private school where our delivery
systems are different,” Estrada said.
He also emphasized that schools must consider their stakeholders before adopting the system.
“You
need to study your own stakeholders, the school, what kind of student
you cater to, what kind of parents, what kind of social class for
example, what would work for your school community and what would not,”
he said.
Consultations
Defending the
implementation of the three-term school calendar, 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.
According
to the agency, a structured approach was undertaken, including an
orientation cascade from the central office down to division levels to
ensure that field feedback was systematically gathered for policy
development.
It said the shift aims to address the frequency of disruptions and the uneven pacing of instruction.
Citing
the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) report, the
department disclosed that in SY 2023-2024, up to 53 out of 180 school
days, or nearly three months of teaching and learning, were lost to
weather disturbances and non-instructional interruptions, which resulted
in compressed lessons and limited time for learners to fully engage
with the curriculum.
“Beyond benefits for learners, the reform
aims to protect teacher welfare by compartmentalizing administrative
demands,” the DepEd said.
It added that grading cycles will be
streamlined, and reporting and administrative requirements will be
scheduled within specific periods.
“By designating timeframes for
professional development and wellness, DepEd seeks to reduce the overlap
of instructional and administrative duties that often leads to teacher
burnout,” it said.
Under the new system approved by the Economy
and Development Council chaired by President Marcos, the school year
will have 201 days divided into three terms: June to September,
September to December and January to March. The three-grading period
policy also requires more school days and shorter breaks.
“By
organizing the school year into clearer periods, DepEd aims to ensure
uninterrupted teaching and learning, structured academic support for
learners and streamlined scheduling of school activities and
responsibilities,” it added.
Budget
In line
with these reforms, the DepEd also announced that at least P25.6
billion has been allocated for the school-based feeding program for
school year 2026-2027, which is expected to benefit around 4.6 million
learners.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the budget is more
than double the P11.8 billion allocated in 2025, with the program
expanded to cover 200 days from 120 days last year.
He said the program goes beyond nutrition and aims to restore the dignity and academic potential of every Filipino child.
“We
are fulfilling President Marcos’ directive to end the cycle of
malnutrition in our schools by giving our learners the health to reach
their goals,” Angara said.
The program will cover Kindergarten to
Grade 1, undernourished Grades 2 to 6, pregnant adolescent learners and
vulnerable and marginalized learners beyond Grade 6.
Angara noted
that the program has steadily expanded under the Marcos administration,
from serving 1.67 million students in 2023 to 3.39 million in 2025.
“By
extending feeding to 200 days, the administration is embedding
nutrition into the basic education framework, moving beyond short-term
relief to guarantee long-term learning readiness,” he said.