SENATOR Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said the Department of Education’s proposal to implement a trimestral system for School Year 2026-2027 must undergo broad consultation before any rollout.
Aquino stressed that the reform should not be rushed and must be carefully examined through a Senate hearing.
“Bago ipatupad ng DepEd ang trimestral system, mahalagang sumailalim ito sa malawakang konsultasyon. Sisiguraduhin natin na may Senate Hearing tungkol sa repormang ito, para suriin at pag-usapan ito,” Aquino said.
Aquino heads the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
The Department of Education has floated the shift to a trimestral academic calendar as part of broader reforms aimed at addressing learning gaps and easing administrative burdens in schools.
The proposal comes amid ongoing efforts to recover from pandemic-related disruptions in basic education.
Aquino said the committee supports reforms that would directly address the country’s learning gap and reduce the workload of teachers, particularly those burdened with non-teaching tasks.
“Suportado ng Committee of Basic Education ang mga panukala’t reporma na tutugon sa learning gap at tutulong sa mga guro, na sa kasalukuyan ay overloaded sa non-teaching tasks. Bagaman kinikilala natin ang pangangailangan para sa malawakang reporma, siguraduhin natin na hindi ito gawin ng padalus-dalos at dumaan nga sa tamang konsultasyon,” he said.
The proposed change could affect millions of students, teachers, and parents nationwide, including those in public schools who depend on synchronized academic calendars for employment, childcare, and budgeting decisions.
Any adjustment to the school calendar may also have implications for local governments, transport operators, small businesses near schools, and overseas Filipino worker families coordinating remittances and home visits around school breaks.
Aquino did not provide a timeline for when the Senate hearing would be scheduled, but said the committee would ensure that stakeholders are consulted before the policy is finalized.
The proposal is expected to be taken up in the coming months as DepEd prepares for School Year 2026–2027, with senators likely to weigh both its potential to improve learning outcomes and its logistical impact on schools nationwide.
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