School’s back: Western Visayas opens new three-term calendar

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Public schools in Western Visayas officially open classes today, June 8, marking the start of School Year 2026-2027 under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) newly adopted three-term academic calendar.

DepEd Region 6 assured parents and learners that schools are ready for the opening, citing preparations carried out through Brigada Eskwela, enrollment activities, and Oplan Balik Eskwela.

In an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, DepEd Region 6 public information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. said schools are “100 percent ready and all systems go” for the start of the school year.

The opening marks the implementation of a new three-term academic calendar under DepEd Order No. 009, s. 2026, which replaces the previous four-quarter system.

The order, signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara in April, ties the calendar to the department’s Academic Recovery for Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, which aims to help students recover from pandemic-related learning losses.

Under the revised structure, School Year 2026-2027 will run from June 8, 2026, to April 8, 2027, covering 201 class days divided into three academic terms.

Each term will consist of an opening block, an instructional period focused on teaching and learning, and an end-of-term period for grading, reporting, and other academic requirements.

DepEd said the shift is intended to maximize instructional time, minimize disruptions, and support learning recovery efforts.

As of June 6, DepEd Region 6 recorded 717,475 learners enrolled in public schools across the region.

The figure represents about 73% of the more than 900,000 learners enrolled during the previous school year, although officials expect the number to increase as schools continue encoding records and accepting late enrollees.

While the official enrollment period ended June 5, Escullar noted that schools remain open to learners who have yet to register.

Under DepEd policy, late enrollment is allowed provided a learner has not accumulated absences exceeding 20% of the total prescribed school days.

From June 8 to 11, schools will observe the Opening Block of Term 1, a period dedicated to beginning-of-school-year activities, learner assessments, and health screenings before regular classroom instruction begins.

“For Monday, it will be an assessment period. So attendance is important,” Escullar said.

He added that students who enroll after the opening block may face greater challenges once formal instruction starts.

“If a learner enrolls late and the instructional block has already begun, the child will need to catch up on lessons that were missed. That is why we encourage parents to enroll their children as early as possible,” he said.

To assist parents and other stakeholders during the school opening, DepEd Region 6 has activated Oplan Balik Eskwela help desks until June 11.