DepEd Accelerates Transition to Old School Calendar; 2024-2025 Academic Year to End in March

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has unveiled plans to expedite the return to the traditional June school calendar, with the forthcoming school year 2024-2025 set to commence on July 29 and conclude on March 31 the following year.

This decision signals a significant acceleration of DepEd’s timeline, paving the way for the anticipated June opening of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Previously, in February, DepEd had announced a gradual shift back to the old calendar. According to Department Order No. 003 S. of 2024, the 2024-2025 academic year was slated to span from July 29 to May 16, 2025.

However, this recent “aggressive shift” to the traditional school calendar means that the upcoming academic year will encompass only 163 days, falling short of the usual 180 days.

To address this discrepancy, DepEd is considering the implementation of Saturday classes, as disclosed by DepEd-Bureau of Learning Delivery chief Leila Areola during a hearing with the House of Representatives committee on basic education and culture.

The rationale behind the accelerated transition is to better align the academic calendar with prevailing conditions and stakeholder preferences. By commencing the school year in July and concluding it in March, DepEd aims to optimize learning opportunities while mitigating challenges associated with extreme weather conditions, among other factors.

This move underscores DepEd’s commitment to responsive and adaptive education policies, ensuring that the needs and well-being of students and educators remain paramount amidst evolving circumstances.

For further updates and details on the transition process, stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed through official announcements from DepEd and related government channels.