Bea Allyson Alimangohan

The Department of Education (DepEd) officially underscored the new guidelines for the school calendar of activities including the opening of classes for School Year (S.Y.) 2025-2026 which will be on June 16, 2025, and end on March 31, 2026.

Photo Courtesy of Philippine News Agency.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara signed the DepEd Order No. 012 s. 2025 dated April 15, 2025, entitled “Multi-Year Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities,” which shall be implemented in the mentioned school year as well as the subsequent years.

“It shall consist of 197 class days including the End-of-School-Year (EOSY) rites, or as may be determined by subsequent issuances in case of changes to the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances,” stated DepEd.

The department also mentioned that this will apply to all public elementary and secondary schools as well as Community Learning Centers (CLCs), while the in-person learning delivery modality primarily remains.

It can also be adopted by private institutions, Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs), and state/local universities and colleges  (SUCs/LUCs) but shall follow the provision that underlined the required number of class days.

The DepEd order also mentioned that schools shall automatically implement EiE ADM in case of emergencies or hazards leading to the declaration of suspension or cancellation of in-person classes, following their respective learning and service continuity plan which consists of other modalities such as distance learning.

DepEd highlighted the following guidelines to be implemented before the opening of classes, mid-school year break, EOSY, co-curricular activities, general assembly and parent-teacher conferences, and other activities for the school year in the DepEd order.

The Brigada Eskwela and enrollment period shall be conducted one week before classes begin and simultaneously the mandatory learners’ health assessment up to three weeks after the start of classes such as general physical examination and vision and hearing screening.

DepEd implemented the reversion to the old June-March school calendar which was used before the Covid-19 pandemic started following the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos.

“To enable schools and community learning centers (CLCs) to effectively and efficiently implement school activities and maximize instructional time, cognizant of the goals and objectives,” DepEd issues the guidelines for this to be achieved under Marcos administration.