A new school calendar may reduce disruptions and improve teaching time.

Classrooms today are often full, yet real learning time keeps shrinking. Lessons are cut short by programs, reports, and activities that take teachers away from teaching. Many students struggle to keep up because topics are rushed. If this continues, the quality of education will slowly weaken.

The current school calendar has become too crowded. Schools must follow many required celebrations and submit several reports within the year. These interruptions break the flow of lessons and pressure teachers to focus on paperwork. As a result, instruction becomes compressed and students are left catching up.

The proposed shift of the Department of Education to a trimester system is a step in the right direction. Dividing the school year into three terms with clear instructional and enrichment blocks can protect teaching time. Longer, uninterrupted learning periods will allow better pacing of lessons. This reform aims to improve both teaching quality and student understanding. With around 201 school days spread across three terms, teachers can manage lessons without constant disruption.

A School Calendar That Puts Learning First

Breaks between terms will also give them time for planning, checking outputs, and preparing materials. Integrating celebrations into classroom lessons instead of suspending classes can keep learning on track. In this way, academic focus remains strong while still honoring important events.

Reforms are meant to solve long-standing problems, not avoid them. If consultations are done well, schools can adapt step by step.

Education must always protect learning time above all else. A well-planned trimester system can help restore focus inside classrooms. The Department of Education should listen carefully to teachers and implement this reform with clear guidelines. Our students deserve a school calendar that truly supports their growth and future.