By Pexcel John Bacon and Almira Louise S. Martinez, Reporter

EDUCATION groups raised concerns over the Department of Education’s (DepEd) plan to implement a three-term school calendar starting school year 2026-2027, questioning both the lack of consultation and the need for the shift.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said proper engagement with educators was insufficient ahead of the rollout.

National Chairperson Ruby Bernardo said teachers and unions should have been formally consulted as key stakeholders in the reform.

“The consultation is really important for the Alliance of Concerned Teachers,” she told a House of Representatives hearing in Filipino on Monday. “The unions should have been consulted.”

She added that teachers themselves have been the ones initiating coordination with the department. “We are the ones reaching out to DepEd to have meetings.”

Ms. Bernardo also questioned the necessity of shifting to a three-term system, calling for deeper discussion before full implementation.

Despite these concerns, DepEd said it would proceed with the reform as part of efforts to address learning disruptions, improve teaching continuity and streamline academic workloads.

“The three-term school calendar is not just a standalone reform of the Department of Education,” Assistant Secretary Janir T. Datukan told the hearing. “It is part of a bigger reform… to address the gaps in basic education.”

The agency has issued an order setting the guidelines for implementation.

Mr. Datukan said the curriculum would remain unchanged, but the academic year has been restructured from four quarters into three terms.

Under the setup, the school year will run from June to April and will be divided into three terms: June to September, October to December and January to April.

Each term will include an opening block for school readiness and baseline assessment, followed by an instructional block for regular teaching and learning activities.

The second and third terms will end with an “end-of-term block” — 10 days in the second term and six days in the third — allocated for assessments, remediation, grading, teacher development, co-curricular activities and wellness breaks. These periods may also be used for make-up classes during disruptions such as typhoons and holidays.

Other education stakeholders expressed cautious support but stressed the need for adequate preparation.

Pasig Rep. Roman T. Romulo, who heads the basic education committee, said the plan should include greater flexibility, citing the risk of class disruptions due to natural disasters.

“The weather is unpredictable, that is the main problem,” he told the hearing in mixed English and Filipino. “

Mr. Romulo raised concern that the scheduled instructional block from September to December under the revised calendar could be disrupted by typhoons and other emergencies.

“What would happen if they follow your guide and the class is suspended, so there would be [lessons] that will not be tackled?” he said, stressing the need for buffer periods in the academic calendar.

Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) showed that most weather-related class suspensions in School Year 2024–2025 occurred from September to November.

EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark R. Yee said DepEd has yet to present detailed data on suspension days between December and March, which he said is needed to identify where buffer periods would be most effective.

John R. Jacome, managing director of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines, said support for the calendar shift is largely pragmatic.

Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines Executive Director Narcy Ador Dionisio cited the importance of transition time.

“We only ask for one thing, give us ample time to transition,” he said in Filipino.

Lawmakers and stakeholders are expected to continue deliberations in succeeding hearings as the government moves toward full implementation of the revised academic calendar.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR