The Department of Education (DepEd) has proposed changing the school year system, in hopes of improving the welfare of both teachers and learners. The plan was met with both concern and welcome from education stakeholders.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said they are looking into shifting the school year 2026–2027 into a trimester system from the current four-quarter system to allow “longer and more flexible” instructional periods and a lessened teacher workload.

Under the proposal, the first trimester will be from June to September, the second from September to December, and the third from January to March.

If this pushes through, each term will have an instructional block which is “dedicated to quality teaching and learning time” and an enrichment block for “remediation and enrichment, grade computation, preparation and checking of school forms, and wellness break.”

DepEd said, “scheduled breaks between terms will also provide teachers with time for planning, assessment, and professional tasks, helping improve overall instructional delivery.”

‘Not lab rats’

But the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) flagged the proposal, saying educators and students are “not lab rats.”

For one, it questioned how the teachers’ workload would lighten under a trimester system when it is “extremely difficult” for them to compress it in a four-quarter system.

It said reshuffling school days “does not reduce overwork when teaching loads, class sizes, and administrative demands remain unchanged.”

ACT stressed the academic calendar is not the root of the education crisis. Instead, it urged DepEd to address the issues that plague the education sector such as classroom deficit and congestion, and “low and non-livable” pay for teachers.

There is a deficit of 165,000 classrooms. Based on the 2nd Congressional Commission on Education’s (EDCOM 2) findings, about 2,000 schools implemented multiple shifts to accommodate students during the 2023-2024 period.

An entry-level teacher, with a Teacher I designation, receives a monthly salary of around P30,000. ACT has been lobbying for a P50,000-entry-level salary for teachers.

“Kung seryoso ang gobyerno na tugunan ang learning crisis, dapat unahin ang pagpuno sa mga kakulangang ito,” ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo said.

(If the government is serious about addressing the learning crisis, it should prioritize filling the shortage.)

“Hangga’t hindi tinutugunan ang materyal na kalagayan ng pagtuturo at pagkatuto, anumang pagbabago sa iskedyul ay mananatiling kulang at problematiko,” she added.

(Until the government addresses the material conditions of teaching and learning, any schedule change will remain insufficient and problematic.)

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) also called for the prioritization of salary increases for teachers, urging lawmakers to deliberate on proposed measures such as the P15,000 across-the-board wage hike.

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed Senate Bill 211, which seeks a P15,000-across-the-board wage increase for teachers and employees in the public basic education sector.

“Any measure that seeks to institutionalize reforms in the education sector must place the rights and welfare of teachers in paramount consideration, otherwise, even the most well-intentioned programs will fall short of their purpose,” said TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas.

EDCOM 2 previously said teachers were overworked due to “repetitive paperwork.”

Consultation

ACT and TDC also said there should have been consultations with teachers and other education stakeholders about the proposed schedule change before it was announced, noting that it would mean a drastic change.

The two groups also questioned whether the proposal is backed by a through study.

“Kung may pag-aaral na basehan ang panukalang ito, dapat malinaw itong inilalahad at sinusuri kasama ang mga guro,” Bernardo said. “Hindi maaaring magpatupad ng malalaking pagbabago sa sistema ng paaralan nang walang makabuluhang konsultasyon sa mga direktang maaapektuhan.”

(If there is a study which serves as the basis for this proposal, it should have been clearly stated and scrutinized together with teachers. Significant changes in the school system cannot be implemented without comprehensive consultation with those who would be directly affected.)

“We recognize the need for reforms to improve learning conditions, but any proposal as significant as shifting to a trimester system must undergo genuine consultation with stakeholders, especially teachers, parents and learners and be backed by a comprehensive study before it is implemented or even publicly declared,” said Basas.

When DepEd announced the proposal, it said there would be consultations with stakeholders before policy guidelines on the proposal would be issued.

‘Try it’

Meanwhile, DepEd’s proposal was welcomed by the National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Philippines.

The group said it believes the plan will reduce the burnout of teachers and learners as well as allow immediate remediation.

“Sa preparation nila [teachers] ‘pag mag-e-exam ‘di ba, magiging tatlo na lang (Teachers will just have to prepare for three exams),” National PTA president Willy Rodriguez told Rappler.

“Ito [trimester system] ay nagbibigay ng mas balanseng pacing ng aralin, mas madalas na pahinga, at mas maayos na assessment,” he said.

(The trimester system offers a more balanced pacing of learning, regular breaks, and better assessment.)

Despite concerns, Rodriguez said the government should “try it” to know whether the system would work. He, however, recommended to have a pilot implementation and monitoring first before a full-scale rollout.

The association, however, shared the same view with ACT and TDC that there should be consultations with stakeholders.

It added that parents should be oriented about the shift, and support systems should be in place for both teachers and learners during a transition period.

Senate inquiry

Senator Bam Aquino said the proposal will be scrutinized by the Senate basic education committee, which he chairs as he pointed out the importance of having consultations about DepEd’s recommendation.

“Suportado ng Committee of Basic Education ang mga panukala’t reporma na tutugon sa learning gap at tutulong sa mga guro, na sa kasakukuyan ay overloaded sa non-teaching tasks,” read part of Aquino’s statement.

(The committee on basic education supports the proposals and reforms that respond to the learning gap and that will help teachers, who are currently overloaded with 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,” added Aquino.

(While we recognize the need for a wide reform, let us make sure that we are not doing it impulsively and that it underwent proper consultations.)

For Malacanang, consultations are vital for a beneficial program.

“Mas maganda naman po talaga na pinag-uusapan lahat ito ng mga stakeholders, ng mga interested parties, lahat po para ma-reach ‘yung pinakamagandang programa para sa ating mga kabataan,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a briefing.

(It would really be better to have the proposal discussed by all stakeholders and interested parties to come up with the best program for the children.) – Rappler.com