Proposed Trimester School Calendar for SY 2026-2027

Proposed Trimester School Calendar for SY 2026-2027

The Department of Education (DepEd) has begun a series of nationwide online consultations to discuss a significant shift in the academic structure: the implementation of a trimester school calendar for the 2026-2027 school year.

According to several regional directives, including Regional Memorandum No. 112, s. 2026 (Region I) and RM No. 090, s. In 2026 (Negros Island Region), the agency is gathering "diverse perspectives" from school heads, master teachers, and division chiefs to evaluate the feasibility of the three-term model.

The Proposed Schedule at a Glance

The draft calendar aims for a total of 201 class days, structured to accelerate learning recovery while maintaining a June opening:
• Term 1: June 8 – September 15, 2026
• Term 2: September 16 – December 18, 2026
• Term 3: January 4 – April 8, 2027
• End-of-School-Year (EOSY) Break: April 9 – May 9, 2027

Focus on "Enrichment Blocks"

A central feature of the proposal is the introduction of two-week Enrichment Blocks at the conclusion of each term. These blocks are intended to provide dedicated time for students to catch up on competencies or engage in remediation without introducing new lessons.

Status of Implementation

Education officials emphasize that the trimester system remains a proposal. The ongoing consultations are designed to address concerns about teacher workload, grading periods, and the logistics of managing three terms rather than the traditional two semesters.

While the department is moving toward a full return to the pre-pandemic June-start cycle by SY 2026-2027, the final decision on whether to adopt the trimestral format will depend on the results of these stakeholder dialogues and a subsequent formal DepEd Order.