MANILA, Philippines — Leading Catholic educational organizations have expressed strong reservations regarding the Department of Education’s (DepEd) plan to transition the country’s school system to a three-term academic calendar, warning of potential disruptions to learning quality and institutional readiness.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education (CBCP-ECCE) emphasized that the shift is a “systemic transformation” that goes beyond mere scheduling.
The groups highlighted several critical areas where the transition could encounter friction:
- Systemic Alignment: Educators argue that a three-term model requires a complete overhaul of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment frameworks, which cannot be rushed.
- Divergent Calendars: While the new calendar is mandatory for public schools, it remains optional for private institutions. CEAP warned this could lead to a fragmented educational ecosystem, complicating student mobility, teacher deployment, and college admissions.
- Complex Social Environment: The groups noted that private schools often operate within local government dynamics and community-based activities that may not align with a revised DepEd schedule.
CEAP and CBCP-ECCE stressed that any reform of this magnitude must be “grounded in evidence” and supported by extensive consultation and capacity-building.
“Reform must ultimately be judged not by compliance with a new calendar, but by its capacity to improve learning outcomes, strengthen teacher effectiveness, and sustain student well-being,” the statement read.
The Catholic education leaders called on DepEd to allow for a “well-paced and supported transition.” They argued that schools need significant time to align their resources, update teacher formation programs, and ensure that the change does not adversely affect the mental health and academic performance of students.
The DepEd has previously defended the shift as a way to optimize learning time and provide more frequent breaks to prevent burnout, but the pushback from the private sector suggests that the implementation phase may face significant hurdles in the coming school year.