DepEd says trimester plan not final after pushback from teachersA parent accompanies a student as classes open for the new school year at an elementary school in Manila on June 16, 2025. "The intent of the proposal is to support broader reforms that simplify planning, improve the use of academic time, and reduce workload pressures on teachers," DepEd said in its statement. What DepEd proposedOn February 13, Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced that DepEd was eyeing a shift from the current four-quarter system to a trimester setup for School Year 2026-2027. DepEd explained that teachers currently lose instructional time to mandatory observances and administrative tasks that crowd the school calendar. The Teachers' Dignity Coalition similarly shared its concern and said DepEd should have consulted teachers before floating the proposal publicly.

Source: Philippine Star February 17, 2026 08:36 UTC