THE Department of Education–Davao Region (DepEd-Davao) confirmed that the school year 2026–2027 would start on June 8, 2026, and would follow a three-term school calendar.
Jenielito “Dodong” Atillo, spokesperson of DepEd-Davao, said that the school year would return to the traditional schedule but that this academic year would be different compared to the previous school calendar, which had four terms. He said that the school year would start on June 8, 2026, and would end on April 8, 2027.
“We will be having 201 class days but we are implementing a new scheme for the school calendar, gitawag namo ang bag-o nga [which we call the new] three-term school calendar,” he said during the Davao Peace and Security Press Forum, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
Atillo added that the public may be used to the four-term school year, but this time the department would be dividing it into three. He said that for each term, there would be an opening, instructional, and closing block.
He said that term one would be comprised of 69 days, wherein the opening period would only last for a short time, while the instructional period would be 55 class days out of the 69 days.
For term two, it would have 65 days, of which 56 would be class days for the instructional period, while term three would have 67 days, of which 57 days would be for the instructional period.
He said that the purpose of the change is to provide a wider latitude for the teaching and learning period of the children. He said that through the three-term school calendar, learners will have more time to learn. In times of disaster, schools can then shift to alternative learning modalities, whether online or through modular learning, for the continuity of learning.
Atillo said that under this new term, activities would be done outside of class hours. This is to ensure that there is continuity in the learning of the students. He said that schools could integrate programs such as Buwan ng Wika into their lessons; however, if they want to have an activity or a program, they should do it outside of class hours.
He said that activities could be done in the afternoon or on weekends, depending on the school. He added, however, that this should be announced to the parents, especially for activities that would be done outside of class.
On the clamor that the new term would heavily affect the learning experience of children, Atillo said that the term was studied rigorously by professionals, and through it, students would be able to learn better since classes would now continue without disturbances.
Atillo then clarified that this new scheme would only be implemented in all public schools in the country and that private schools have the option whether to adapt it.
To recall, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has approved the proposed three-term school calendar for public schools, from elementary to senior high school, starting in Academic Year 2026–2027.
The approved plan is in line with the recommendation of the Economic and Development Council (EDC) and considered as part of the broader education reforms in the country.
The old, four grading periods will then be replaced by a three-term academic calendar. This shift aims to address compressed learning periods caused by class suspensions due to calamities, accidents, and other disruptions. RGP
