The Department of Education (DepEd) announces its plan to revert to the “original” academic calendar, slowly transitioning to the June to March structure by 2026-2027. The 2023-2024 school year reportedly observes a May 31, 2024, conclusion (around two weeks earlier instead of June 14, 2024), with a June 1 to July 26, 2024, summer break.
Brought forth last Monday, February 19, 2024, DepEd Order No. 003 s. 2024 adjusts the timeline of the succeeding year through a July 29, 2024, start date and a May 16, 2025, end date, adhering to the intention of a “gradual” transition and to “avoid major disruptions to students' and education personnel’s vacation days.” The implementation resulted in the shortening of seven to eight days in the current school calendar.
DepEd Spokesperson and Undersecretary Michael Poa issued the phase-structured integration to align closely with the traditional April-May school break. The decision came following thorough consultations with “parents, teachers, and other education groups,” motioning their preference for a June opening to avoid the country’s dry season peak.
“Hindi kasi talaga natin pwede bawasan kaagad iyon kasi hindi matutunan ng mga bata ng lahat ng competencies…That is why we needed to do consultation even with teachers para masigurado na iyong ating learning competencies natin ay hindi naman siya mapuputol doon sa taon na ito at walang hahabulin for the next year,” Poa mentioned to reporters.
Private schools, on the other hand, will also be given minor flexibility in terms of adjustments, noting a minimum of June 1 to August 31 start date.
