The proposal of the Department of Education (DepEd) to shift public schools to a trimester system can be implemented without new legislation, but should not be rushed and must undergo broad consultations, Senator Bam Aquino said.

Aquino said the education department has the authority to adjust the school calendar through an administrative order, stressing that the issue is not legal authority but readiness on the ground.

He said any move to adopt a trimester system should be preceded by thorough discussions with teachers, parents and students to ensure the reform is carried out smoothly and addresses practical concerns.

Aquino said he intends to use the Senate Committee on Basic Education, which he chairs, as a venue for these consultations and plans to begin hearings as early as next month.

He noted that while the proposal’s goal of improving learning outcomes is sound, teachers’ groups have cautioned against a hurried rollout that could strain schools already dealing with shortages and heavy workloads.

Aquino said a trimester system could eventually benefit teachers by easing academic pressures and help schools recover learning losses caused by frequent class suspensions, but only if implementation is carefully planned.