Many people are talking about the planned trimester scheme for the next school year. What changes can we expect? Will this new policy really help students and teachers? This week, the Economic and Development Council, led by Ferdinand Marcos Jr., approved an initial proposal for the trimester school calendar. This means the school year may be divided into three terms instead of the usual system. Nevertheless, the Department of Education’s four-quarter system has been part of our education system for many years. Because of this, shifting to a trimester system will be a big change and will bring new expectations.
Along with this, there is also a proposed “4+1” class setup. Students will attend face-to-face classes for four days and have one day of online learning. Many educational blogs say this setup can help reduce daily expenses. The proposal gained attention due to rising fuel prices. With fewer days of travel, families and schools can save money and resources. This new plan may bring both benefits and challenges. It can help reduce costs, but it will also require students and teachers to adjust to a new system. Under the DepEd Order 09 (s. 2026), the Department of Education clearly indicated the important activities and dates of the Three-Term School Calendar 2026-2027.
What is DepEd Trimester?
The DepEd’s trimester system is a proposed change in the school calendar. It divides the academic year into three terms instead of four quarters. Each term has its own lessons, activities, and assessments. This setup aims to make learning more focused and organized. It may also reduce stress by giving students regular breaks between terms. However, it requires adjustment from both students and teachers. Overall, the system seeks to improve learning while adapting to current needs.
Advantages of the Trimester System
The trimester system in the Department of Education might be new to all of us. However, some research shows the benefits of this system to ease and streamline the curriculum and school calendar. Below are the listed advantages of the trimester system.
- Fewer grading deadlines. Teachers handle only three grading periods instead of four. This reduces pressure and gives them more time to prepare quality assessments.
- Deeper and more meaningful learning. Longer terms allow teachers to discuss lessons in greater detail. Students can better understand and master the competencies.
- Improved assessment methods. Teachers can use more effective strategies, like projects and performance tasks. This makes evaluation more meaningful, not rushed.
- Better lesson planning. Teachers can redesign pacing guides based on longer instructional time. This helps them organize lessons more clearly and effectively.
- More flexible scheduling. The system makes it easier to adjust lessons when interruptions happen. Classes remain structured even in the face of unexpected changes.
- More organized school records. The Department of Education can update grading systems and records to match the new setup. This improves tracking of student progress.
- More balanced academic workload. Both teachers and students can manage their time better. The workload becomes more evenly distributed across the school year.
Impact of Trimester Scheme on Learners
The trimester system is expected to improve students’ focus and retention of lessons. It helps reduce learning gaps caused by frequent interruptions. Further, the trimester school calendar will provide clear, structured remediation opportunities. By minimizing disruptions during peak heat months and typhoon seasons, the Department of Education aims to create a more stable and consistent learning environment nationwide.
Policy Significance and National Implications
Although the four-quarter system has played a substantial role in our educational culture over the past decades, we cannot deny the need for change to adapt to recent trends in both theoretical and practical principles of education.
It is best to see the upcoming implementation of the trimester school calendar as a chance to introduce a more effective teaching and learning process. This new system will also provide more flexibility in our schedule for class adjustments and help avoid learning disruptions. The new policy of the Department of Education aims to protect instructional time as a core and fundamental factor of educational governance.
Related Teaching Resources
To fully support you, we’ve included links to additional teaching resources below. We’d love to hear from you—feel free to message us at ict@alapan1es.com.
- ARAL Summer Remediation Program 2026
- Daily Lesson Log (DLL)
- Lesson Exemplars (LE)
- Modules and LEAP
- Learning Activity Sheets (LAS)
- Lesson PowerPoint (PPT)