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Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara (Photo courtesy of DepEd Philippines)
The Department of Education (DepEd) clarified Tuesday that its proposed shift to a trimester academic system remains under review, emphasizing that no final decision has been reached.
In an official statement issued Feb. 17, the agency acknowledged concerns raised by lawmakers, teachers and other stakeholders over the plan.
“We take these views seriously as we acknowledge that structural reform and systemic issues, such as classroom shortage and teacher welfare, are not mutually exclusive,” DepEd stated.
The department underscored that the proposal is still undergoing consultations.
“The trimester system remains a proposal, and no final decision has been made. DepEd is actively conducting consultations and will continue engaging education officials and stakeholders in the coming days to ensure that all voices are heard and considered,” it said.
According to DepEd, the initiative is intended to align with broader education reforms.
“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.
The agency assured that adjustments would be made based on feedback from the field.
“DepEd remains committed to refining the proposal based on feedback from the field. Our priority is that any reform must strengthen learning continuity while improving conditions for both learners and educators,” it added.
The clarification comes after the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines raised concerns that the proposed shift could widen existing learning gaps and subject students to an experimental scheduling setup without clear evidence of improved outcomes.
The group argued that the trimester model fails to address deeper systemic challenges, including classroom shortages, low teacher salaries, heavy administrative workloads, substandard learning materials and hunger among students.
Sen. Bam Aquino, chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, earlier signaled his intent to initiate a Senate inquiry into the proposed adoption of a trimestral system for School Year 2026–2027.
On Feb. 13, DepEd formally announced the proposal, saying the change aims to enhance curriculum delivery, ease teacher workload and protect instructional time.