DepEd proposes March end to 2024-25 school year

In response to public demand for an earlier return to the traditional academic calendar, the Department of Education (DepEd) has proposed ending the school year 2024-2025 in March and submitted a letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

During a Senate inquiry on Tuesday, DepEd spokesperson Francis Bringas stated that the department has offered more aggressive options for transitioning back to the old calendar due to recent extreme heat conditions, which prompted the suspension of in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery modes (ADMs).

Under the proposed plan, students would have only 165 in-person school days next year, with the remaining days conducted through distance learning and shorter mid-transition breaks.

DepEd's order released in February sets the period of the school year 2024-2025 from July 29 to March 24, aiming to revert to the previous June to March setting.

The department emphasized that the endorsement was based on public preference and economic impact rather than climate or weather considerations, as schools can shift to online learning during extreme heat conditions.

Bringas noted that these options would mean a shorter school year and squeezed breaks, which might affect rest periods for learners and teachers, and could compromise more days for proportional vacation pay (PVP) for public school teachers.