Education Secretary Sonny Angara allowed private schools to set their own academic calendars, saying they do not have to adopt the newly approved three-term grading system of the Department of Education (DepEd).
During a school visit in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 24, Angara said private institutions can choose whether to follow the compressed academic schedule and design their own timeframe.
He, however, required private schools to comply with the national curriculum and complete the prescribed number of school days set by DepEd.
The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines supported the policy, emphasizing that private schools have long exercised flexibility in structuring their academic calendars.
Its representative, Joseph Noel Estrada, said many institutions already implement different grading systems, including three grading periods.
Angara also clarified that the three-term grading system differs from a trimester setup. He explained that schools will still offer the same subjects, but will divide them into three grading periods instead of restructuring the curriculum.
The education chief issued the clarification as schools prepare to adjust their schedules under the revised grading system.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.