In response to schedule concerns amid the planned school year adjustments President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved a gradual return to the traditional academic calendar. 

The 2024-2025 school year will start July 29 and end April 15, marking the transition to the old June-to-March schedule. This approved plan is slower by about a month compared to the ‘aggressive shift he earlier expressed willingness to adopt due to extreme heat conditions.

In a meeting with Vice President Sara Duterte at the Malacañang Palace, two options were discussed: 182 school days with 15 Saturday classes or 167 school days without Saturday classes, both ending on March 31, 2025.

President Marcos expressed concerns that 167 days would be too short and could hurt learning. He emphasized not requiring Saturday classes due to potential negative impacts on students. 

As a compromise, he proposed extending the school year to April 15, allowing for 182 days without Saturday classes.

In a statement during the meeting, President Marcos emphasized the need to maintain the standard school days without disrupting Saturdays. 

“Habaan lang natin ‘yung school days. Para matagal, dagdagan na lang natin ‘yung school days basta huwag natin gagalawin ‘yung Saturday. So, school day will remain the same. Standard lang,” President Marcos told the Vice President during the meeting.

VP Duterte confirmed that consultations had been conducted with teachers, school officials and parents regarding the proposed adjustments to the school calendar for the upcoming academic year.

The new academic calendar has received mixed reactions. Some parents welcome the change, citing a need for a balanced schedule for students and teachers. They believe starting earlier and ending before summer heat gives children more time to relax.

However, not everyone supports the revision. Educators are concerned about its impact on the curriculum and necessary adjustments. 

The advocacy group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) stressed the importance of a stable learning environment and urged DepEd to ensure continuity and good conditions for learning.

PBEd said in a Feb. 26 statement, “Our students need a fixed schedule. We hope that this recent decision will be firm and consistent among administrations to minimize learning disruption.”

The President’s announcement comes as several classes nationwide continue to be canceled or moved online due to intense heat waves from the El Niño phenomenon.