Understanding the 3-Term School Calendar (DepEd Order No. 009, s. 2026)
Philippine basic education has officially transitioned from four quarters to a Three-Term School Calendar under DepEd Order No. 009, s. 2026.
Clarifying the Shift: Not a Trimester System
Unlike higher education, this shift does not mean accelerated graduation or mid-year subject changes. The school year remains 201 class days. DepEd consolidated the academic calendar into three terms solely to eliminate lesson fragmentation and reduce grading burdens.
The 3-Block Architecture per Term
Every term follows a strict, three-phase framework designed to keep instruction organized:
01
The Opening Block (Term 1, Week 1):
Focuses on diagnostics. Regular classes pause for student profiling, health checks, and Beginning-of-School-Year (BOSY) baseline exams.
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System Integration: Use Genyo to automate these baseline tests entirely.
02
The Instructional Block (54-61 Days):
"Sacred" teaching time. Extracurricular events are banned to allow uninterrupted core instruction.
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System Integration: Diwa 5G Textbooks are chronologically mapped to align with this exact timeline.
03
The End-of-Term Block (2 Weeks):
Dedicated to summative assessments, grade finalization, and remediation.
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System Integration: Leverage Diwa Modular Guides to seamlessly achieve compliance.
The 3 Major Goals Behind the Reform
1
ARAL Program Integration:
Instead of squeezing remedial lessons into regular class hours, struggling learners receive dedicated tutoring during the End-of-Term block. This perfectly aligns with the legislated Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program (RA 12028).
2
Reduced Teacher Workloads:
Transitioning from four grading cycles to three minimizes peak test-generation periods, reduces administrative paperwork, and directly mitigates teacher burnout.
3
Disaster Resiliencу:
Extended blocks provide built-in time buffers to absorb climate disruptions (such as typhoons or extreme heat), allowing for a smoother, less disruptive pivot to Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs).
Note for Private Schools
While optional for private institutions, many are adopting this 3-block architecture to mirror public school pacing efficiencies and maximize teaching time.