DepEd school calendar 2025 is about to change in a big way. The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that the upcoming school year (2024–2025) will end earlier than usual — on March 31, 2025. This major decision is part of a bigger plan to return to the old school calendar in the Philippines. Instead of classes starting in August or July, schools may go back to opening in June, just like before the pandemic.

Why Change the School Calendar?

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he wanted the country to return to its old Philippines school schedule because of rising temperatures. The hot weather during March to May has made learning harder for students. Some schools even had to cancel face-to-face classes and shift to online learning.

Education Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas explained that this move will help students avoid the worst heat. Starting the 2025–2026 school year in June will also allow students to have a more comfortable learning environment.

New Dates for SY 2024–2025

DepEd plans to start the next school year on July 29, 2024. It will end on March 31, 2025. This gives students two months of vacation before the new school year starts again in June 2025.

But this change means the upcoming school year will be shorter than usual. Instead of the standard 180 to 220 school days required by law, there will only be about 165 school days.

Will Students Miss Out?

Some parents and teachers worry that a shortened school year might affect the quality of education. Assistant Secretary Bringas admitted that fewer school days mean fewer contact hours with students. This could make it harder for teachers to cover all topics in the curriculum.

But he also said DepEd is already working on a concrete plan to make sure students still learn everything they need. The Bureau of Learning Delivery is preparing ways to help teachers adjust. They might make some lessons shorter or focus on the most important topics to make sure nothing gets left behind.

Adjustments and Support for Schools

Schools may need to make adjustments in how they deliver lessons. Teachers could use more digital tools or speed up some parts of the lessons. There may also be extra training or new learning materials to help schools adjust smoothly.

DepEd said it will provide support and guidelines to all public and private schools to make this change work for everyone. The goal is to ensure that students still get a quality education, even with fewer days in school.

What Does This Mean for Parents and Students?

If you’re a parent or student, here’s what you need to know:

• School starts July 29, 2024
• School ends March 31, 2025
• Expect a shorter school year with only 165 school days
• New school year (2025–2026) will start in June 2025
• Schools will use new strategies to cover all lessons

So, students will get a longer summer break in April and May, and return to the old school calendar most parents grew up with.

Is This Change Permanent?

DepEd has not said whether the old school calendar will stay for good. It depends on how well this transition goes and how it affects students and teachers. But for now, this is a big step toward normalizing the school calendar and helping kids stay safe from extreme heat.

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