Goodbye Quarterly, Hello Trimester? Senate Grills DepEd Over Proposed School Calendar Switch Amid Literacy Crisis
The Senate Committee on Basic Education is putting Education Secretary Sonny Angara on the hot seat on Tuesday, March 3, as it conducts an inquiry into the Department of Education's controversial proposal to switch from a quarterly to a trimester school calendar system.
According to DepEd, the shift aims for a 'holistic approach' with 'longer and continuous learning time' for students. Instead of four quarters, the school year would be divided into three terms — potentially changing the rhythm of Filipino education for millions of students and teachers nationwide.
The proposal has garnered mixed reactions. Some education experts argue that changing the calendar shouldn't be the priority when the country is in the middle of a literacy crisis. Others are open to giving it a try, saying a trimester system could provide a more balanced learning pace with fewer but longer academic periods.
The hearing also tackles a more alarming issue: the state of literacy in the Philippines. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) found that students' proficiency has been declining even as they advance through grade levels — a mass promotion problem that's quietly eroding the quality of Philippine education.
The combination of calendar reform and literacy crisis makes this one of the most significant education hearings of the year. Whether the trimester proposal survives Senate scrutiny or gets shelved, the spotlight on Filipino students' declining skills is long overdue.
Source: Rappler
