DepEd says school year 2025-2026 will start June 16

Department of Education Central office in Pasig City —File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — School Year (SY) 2025-2026 will start on June 16, according to a Department of Education (DepEd) order.

This follows the return to the old June-to-March school calendar as approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “in response to public concerns” in May 2024.

“The SY 2025-2026 shall formally open on Monday, June 16, 2025 and shall end on Tuesday, March 31, 2026,” DepEd Order No. 12 series of 2025 read.

“It shall consist of 197 class days inclusive of the end-of-school-year rites, or as may be determined by subsequent issuances in case of changes in the school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances,” it continued.

The order was dated April 15.

READ: Marcos approves return to old school calendar

DepEd chief Sonny Angara said private schools could adopt this calendar, but added they may adopt their own set of classes as long as their school year won’t consist of more than 220 class days.

“Private schools may adopt DepEd’s school calendar,” Angara told INQUIRER.net in a text message on Monday.

“They may also set their own start of classes, provided they comply with the School Calendar Law, which states that the school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August,” he added.

Meanwhile, the DepEd order also slated the Brigada Eskwela, the annual school maintenance program, from June 9 to 13.