The Department of Education (DepEd) officially presented its new three‑term school calendar for School Year 2026–2027 during a briefing at the House of Representatives on May 28, 2026, introducing a major shift from the traditional academic schedule to a structure designed to streamline learning and school activities.
Under the new system, the school year is divided into three distinct blocks, each combining focused instruction with necessary breaks and administrative work:
- Term 1: June 15 – September 1, 2026 (55 instructional days)
- Term 2: September 16 – December 4, 2026 (56 instructional days)
- Term 3: January 4 – March 23, 2027 (57 instructional days)
A key feature of the setup is the separation of “instructional blocks” periods dedicated entirely to teaching and learning from “end‑of‑term blocks” set aside for non‑academic and support activities. These transition periods cover grade computation, report card distribution, co‑curricular and extra‑curricular events, and the implementation of the Academic Recovery for Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program and professional development sessions for teachers. They also include a two‑day Teachers Wellness Break and a four‑day Learners Wellness Break, giving both educators and students time to rest and recharge.
At the very start of the school year, there is also a four‑day “opening block” intended for orientation programs and settling into the new academic year.
DepEd emphasized that the new structure aims to create uninterrupted periods of learning, reduce disruptions, and ensure that recovery programs, wellness activities, and administrative requirements are clearly scheduled without cutting into core teaching time. The calendar now runs from mid‑June to late March, moving away from the previous longer cycles, and aligns with efforts to improve the quality and consistency of education delivery nationwide.
As of now, these dates and guidelines remain official, with DepEd reiterating that adjustments or further details will be issued through memorandums and advisories leading up to the opening of classes on June 15, 2026.
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DepEd Restructures Senior High School Subjects Under New 3‑Term School Calendar
The distribution of subjects in Senior High School (SHS) under the Department of Education’s new Three‑Term School Calendar — also known as the trimester system is directly aligned with the updated Strengthened SHS Curriculum. Replacing the traditional two‑semester setup, the school year is now divided into three distinct terms, and the department has simplified and reduced the number of subjects to ease the workload for both learners and teachers.
A major change involves the streamlining of core subjects. Under the old system, there were 15 core subjects; these have now been consolidated into five key learning areas tailored to fit the new three‑term structure: Effective Communication / Mabisang Komunikasyon (combining English and Filipino, with separate grades for each), General Mathematics, General Science, Life Skills, and Philippine History and Society / Pag‑aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino.
Instruction is now organized under a clear 3‑block framework. At the start of Term 1, an Opening Block is dedicated to student profiling, orientation, and assessment of learners’ competencies. This is followed by the Instructional Block, which spans 54 to 61 days per term and serves as a continuous, uninterrupted period for teaching core and elective subjects. At the end of each term, a two‑week End‑of‑Term or Enrichment Block is scheduled — no new lessons are introduced here; instead, time is allotted for remediation and catch‑up sessions, grade computation, and culminating activities.
Elective offerings have also been overhauled. The rigid strand system such as STEM, ABM, or HUMSS has been replaced by flexible clusters of electives. Schools will determine which courses to offer each term based on official 3‑Term Budgets of Work released by DepEd. Under this arrangement, students will take fewer subjects per term typically 2 to 3 core subjects plus 2 electives allowing for deeper focus and better mastery of lessons, compared to the previous setup where learners handled 8 to 9 subjects simultaneously.
Work immersion requirements have likewise been adjusted to fit the new schedule. The duration has been extended from 80 hours to 320 hours, with more flexible scheduling options. Schools may conduct the entire work immersion program during Grade 12 Term 3, or spread it across successive Enrichment Blocks to ensure it does not disrupt regular classes.
Full guidelines and official documents on the new subject distribution and implementation details are available for download through the DepEd Strengthened SHS Program Portal.