Private schools are free to adopt their own calendar structures, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said, following statements from the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations that private schools need not follow the three-term school calendar.
Private schools have flexibility in their calendar structures and are not required to follow the Department of Education's new three-term school calendar, Secretary Sonny Angara stated during a chance interview in Quezon City. “Private schools are not really covered. Even in the school year, they don’t follow it, they have flexibility. The DepEd graduation is on March 30 and 31, private schools don’t, others in May, in June, so private schools are really more flexible,” Angara said. COCOPEA managing director Joseph Noel Estrada noted that while some private schools are implementing it, a law is needed to mandate it across all basic education providers. The calendar divides the school year into three terms: June to September, September to December, and January to March, starting in public schools for the 2026-2027 school year. DepEd defended the policy as stemming from extensive consultations with teachers, school leaders, parents, students, and both public and private sector representatives. The National Association of Public Secondary School Heads Inc. (NAPSSHI) endorsed it, with president Roland dela Cruz stating it would enhance learning distribution, promote mastery, reduce fatigue, and support mental wellness. The Philippine Elementary School Principals Association also voiced support. However, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) disputed DepEd's claims, as chairperson Ruby Bernardo said many teachers were surprised by the announcement, contradicting assertions of broad consultations. Separately, amid a fuel crisis from the Middle East war, Angara signed DepEd Memorandum 22 on March 25, directing schools to conserve energy through measures like efficient lighting, ventilation management, and equipment monitoring.