Department of Education agrees to revert to old school calendar next year
The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to comply with President Marcos’ decision to revert to the old school calendar by next year, as confirmed by an agency official.
“In our letter to the (Office of the President) regarding the DepEd’s proposal for reversion to the June-to-March school year (SY), we had already stated that we commit to abide by the President’s decision on the matter,” DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas told reporters yesterday.
President Marcos has expressed his desire to return to the June to March school calendar as soon as possible to prevent the cancellation of classes due to extreme heat. This decision comes after the DepEd proposed to end SY 2024-2025 in March 2025 and start the succeeding school year in June of the same year.
Details of the transition are still being finalized, as Marcos needs time to review the options presented by the DepEd. The agency is considering alternative delivery mode classes on weekends to make up for the reduced number of in-person class days under the new calendar.
Various groups and lawmakers have been advocating for the return to the old school calendar, citing the challenges faced by students and teachers during the dry season. Thousands of schools have already shifted to alternative delivery mode due to extreme heat conditions.
President Marcos has requested Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to provide a concrete plan for the transition, emphasizing the need to act quickly. The goal is to implement the old school calendar by next year, pending approval.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has called for a smooth transition back to the old school calendar to ensure continuity in education and the well-being of learners and teachers. He expressed gratitude to President Marcos for addressing the issue and working towards restoring normalcy to the school calendar cycle.
