ILOILO City – In a decisive move to shield students and teachers from the hazards of extreme heat, the Department of Education (DepEd) has officially set the opening of School Year 2025 – 2026 on June 16, effectively reverting to the traditional school calendar after years of adjustments.
Secretary Sonny Angara issued DepEd Order No. 012, Series of 2025, titled “Multi-Year Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities” which outlines the return to the June-to-March academic schedule.
The upcoming school year will run from June 16, 2025, to March 31, 2026, covering 197 class days, including End-of-School Year (EOSY) rites.
“This move is in response to the growing calls from our stakeholders to avoid holding classes during the peak of the dry season,” said DepEd Region 6 information officer Hernani Escullar Jr., citing the unbearable classroom conditions during the months of April and May.
The return to the old calendar comes after mounting concerns over the welfare of students who have been exposed to heat stress during the height of the El Niño phenomenon last year.
According to Escullar, DepEd documented cases of learners suffering from hyperventilation, dizziness, and fainting due to soaring temperatures inside classrooms.
The early release of the multi-year guidelines also aims to help schools and community learning centers better prepare and align school activities with national education and economic priorities, such as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda and DepEd’s five-point reform thrust.
Preparations for the new school year include the conduct of Brigada Eskwela and the enrollment period from June 9 to 13, Oplan Balik Eskwela from June 9 to 20, and the start of the Mandatory Learner’s Health Assessment on June 9.
Escullar noted that while the full implementation guidelines for the health assessment are still forthcoming, it is expected to include access to services such as first aid, mental health support, medical and dental checkups, and immunizations.
“We are confident that our schools and teachers are ready for this shift,” Escullar added. “Maintaining classrooms is already a routine task, and this return to the old school calendar aligns with what our communities have long been accustomed to.”/PN
