DepEd adjusts SY 2025-2026 school calendar to 196 days following Eid’l Fitr declaration

DepEd adjusts SY 2025-2026 school calendar to 196 days following Eid’l Fitr declaration

The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially updated the total number of school days for the School Year 2025-2026, adjusting the original schedule to accommodate a national religious holiday.

In a memorandum issued March 16, 2026, it clarified that the school year will now consist of 196 days, down from the initially projected 197 days.

The change follows the official declaration of March 20, 2026 (Friday), as a holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr. To ensure compliance with the Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities (DepEd Order No. 012, s. 2025), the calendar was recalibrated to reflect this non-working day.

Breakdown of School Days (SY 2025-2026)

The following table provides the updated monthly distribution of instructional days to guide teachers and school administrators in their lesson planning and activity scheduling:

Month and Number of School Days

• June 2025 - 11
•  July 2025 - 23
• August 2025 - 20
• September 2025 - 22
• October 2025 - 23
• November 2025 - 21
• December 2025  - 14
• January 2026 - 21
• February 2026 - 19
• March 2026 - 22
 TOTAL - 196

All public elementary and secondary schools are advised to align their localized school calendars and activity designs with this official count to ensure the required learning competencies are met within the adjusted timeframe.

This announcement is based on Division Memorandum OSGOD-2026-062, issued on March 16, 2026, by the Schools Division Office of Cotabato under the SOCCSKSARGEN Region. The memorandum was signed and approved by Romelito G. Flores, CESO V, Schools Division Superintendent, for the information and guidance of all public and private elementary and secondary school heads.

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