President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. approved on Wednesday a recommendation to revert the start of the school calendar to July 29 for school year (SY) 2024-2025.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the move was made following concerns from the public.
"In response to public concerns about the schedule of classes, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved on Tuesday to start reverting the country’s school calendar to the traditional arrangement," the PCO said.
"Thus, the opening of classes for the SY 2024-2025 will begin on July 29 this year and end on April 15, 2025," it added.
The PCO noted that this marks the gradual return of the school year to June of every year until the end of March.
The SY 2024-2025 was supposed to start on July 29, 2024, and end on May 16, 2025, based on Department Order 003, dated February 19, 2024, and signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
Department of Education (DepEd) spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa said the President's order reverting to the old calendar covered public schools, but private schools may also follow.
As a result, Poa stated that SY 2025–2026 would start on June 16, 2025, and end on March 31, 2026.
The decision was reportedly made after a meeting held by Marcos and Duterte last Tuesday, May 20, 2021.
Meanwhile, the current school year (2023-2024) is set to end on May 31.
