Philippines: Pilot program for a three-semester school year.

The transition to a three-semester system in the Philippines is one of the most notable educational reforms in the region, while also sparking much debate about readiness and feasibility.

The Philippine Department of Education announced a change in the school year to three semesters instead of the previous two. The school year will last 201 days with new teaching and assessment phases. Teaching time will be extended to minimize disruption, while the end of each semester will be dedicated to review, assessment, and rest.

Specifically, starting from the 2026-2027 school year, the semesters will be divided as follows: Semester I consists of 69 days, from June to September. Semester II, from September to December, has 65 days. Semester III is 67 days, from January to April of the following year. Previously, a school year in the Philippines typically consisted of two semesters, each divided into four cycles for academic assessment.

The decision aims to reduce disruptions to learning caused by natural disasters. In the 2023-2024 school year alone, the Philippines lost 53 school days due to this, impacting the progress and quality of teaching and the abilities of students.

A representative from the Philippine Department of Education emphasized: “The reforms will address long-standing shortcomings by redesigning the school time structure. We are ensuring continuous learning. The new timeline reduces administrative workload and allows teachers to focus on effective teaching.”

However, not all experts and educational institutions agree with this approach. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) criticizes the plan for its hasty and unstandardized implementation, which could lead to serious consequences.

Ms. Bernardo, President of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), emphasized: “Hasty moves will create difficulties for schools. Especially if they fail, the educational institutions themselves will be held accountable to the teachers and students. The government needs to focus on core issues such as classroom shortages, teacher shortages, or infrastructure improvements.”

Conversely, some other educational organizations view the reform in a more cautious but positive light. The Teacher Dignity Coalition (TDC) argues that the three-semester system could offer practical benefits if implemented correctly, including reducing workload and providing more rest time for teachers.

However, the TDC representative also emphasized a prerequisite: "These benefits can only be achieved through sustained and sincere consultation with stakeholders, along with comprehensive pilot testing to ensure everyone is ready for change."

Furthermore, many experts have expressed concerns about the tight preparation time. With the new school year scheduled to begin in June 2026, schools and administrators will only have about two months to adjust the curriculum, materials, assessment methods, and teacher training. This will put immense pressure on systemic reforms.

In response to these concerns, the Philippine government asserted that the change in the school calendar was only one part of a comprehensive reform strategy. Additional initiatives are being implemented in parallel, including accelerating classroom construction, expanding school meal programs, enhancing nutritional support, improving literacy skills, and ensuring adequate textbook supply.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized: “Public schools need to maintain a minimum of 180 school days per year. The Department of Education will ensure the new system continues to effectively support disadvantaged students, balancing long-term goals with immediate challenges.”

According to Rappler

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/philippines-thi-diem-nam-hoc-ba-hoc-ky-post771536.html