MANILA – The Department of Education has adjusted the end of the school year for 2023-2024 to May 31, 2024, signaling a return to the previous school calendar.
This move was outlined in Department Order 003 series of 2024, signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte. Additionally, the school break has been rescheduled from June 1 to July 26, 2024, instead of the previously planned June 14.
For the upcoming School Year 2024-2025, classes are scheduled to begin on July 29, 2024, and conclude on May 16, 2025.
Education Undersecretary Michael Wesley Poa emphasized that this department order aims to gradually transition the school calendar while ensuring that the number of school days for learners remains unchanged.
“You can see that our school calendar will gradually shift back to the usual April to May break, which is why we did this year, we will end on May 31 and we will begin on July 29, and then slowly move it until we return to the April-May break” Poa said in a chance interview with reporters Tuesday.
Poa explained that the objective is to fully revert to the traditional school calendar by School Year 2026-2027, where classes begin in June and end in March, with vacations scheduled for April to May.
The decision for this gradual transition was informed by a recent survey conducted by the Philippine Normal Education, along with consultations involving teachers, students, and other relevant stakeholders.
Regarding the adjustment, Poa assured that removing seven academic days from the current school calendar to advance the end of the school year won’t compromise the quality of education provided to students.
With May 31 set as the last day of school, quarterly examinations are slated for March 25 and 26 for the third quarter, and May 16 and 17 for the fourth quarter.
End-of-school-year events are scheduled from May 29 to 31, while the National Learning Camp is planned for July 1-19. Additionally, Brigada Eskwela is scheduled from July 22 to 27.
