The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has challenged the Department of Education (DepEd)’s claim that educators were widely consulted before the proposed shift to a three-term school calendar.
In a statement, ACT said the agency’s assertion of “exhaustive consultations” does not reflect the actual experience of teachers on the ground.
According to ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo, if consultations had truly been extensive, many teachers would not have been caught off guard by the change.
She added that an “orientation cascade” cannot be considered equivalent to meaningful teacher participation in policymaking.
DepEd had earlier stated that the proposed three-term school calendar, set to begin in School Year 2026–2027, was developed through consultations with teachers, school leaders, parents, and other stakeholders.
However, ACT maintained that the process lacked genuine dialogue, describing it as “top-down” rather than participatory.
(PHOTO COURTESY: DepEd)
