The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially confirmed that public schools nationwide will commence classes for School Year (SY) 2025–2026 on 16 June 2025, signaling a full return to the traditional June-to-March academic calendar.
This shift comes in accordance with DepEd Order No. 12, Series of 2025, released on 15 April, and follows President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive in May 2024 to revert to the pre-pandemic school schedule "in response to public concerns."
Under the new calendar, the school year will end on 31 March 2026, comprising 197 class days, including the End-of-School-Year (EOSY) rites. DepEd emphasized that this number may be adjusted based on unforeseen events or future directives.
Enrollment and Brigada Eskwela, DepEd’s annual school maintenance initiative, will run from 9 to 13 June, just one week ahead of class opening. This aims to ensure schools are clean, safe, and ready for the incoming academic year.
Meanwhile, DepEd noted that private schools, Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs), and State and Local Universities and Colleges (SUCs/LUCs) may align with this academic calendar or adopt the multi-year guidelines provided. However, any deviation must fall between the first Monday of June and the last day of August, with prior notice to their respective DepEd regional offices.