The Department of Education (DepEd) clarified Thursday that private schools are not obligated to follow the revised school calendar implemented for public schools this year.
This comes after DepEd released an order recently, which recommended the end of 2024 classes by May 31, as it implements a plan to gradually shift towards the June-March calendar.
DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas issued the clarification amid concerns regarding its impact on private institutions.
He explained that while some private schools already aligned their academic year with the traditional July or June opening, others opted to follow the public school schedule in August.
“Private schools that chose to start alongside public schools in August are not mandated to modify their calendars,” Bringas stated during a public briefing. “They retain the option to keep their approved schedules or adjust as needed.”
This flexibility underscores the autonomy granted to private schools in managing their academic calendars.
While public schools undergo standardized adjustments as per DepEd regulations, private institutions have the discretion to establish their own academic year structure, as long as it meets the minimum requirements set by the department.
The revised public school calendar for SY 2024-2025 commences on July 29, 2024, and concludes on May 16, 2025. This translates to a summer break running from June 1 to July 28, including weekends.
Previously, DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa indicated that the full return to the pre-pandemic June-March calendar might occur by SY 2026-2027, with summer break commencing in the first week of April.
However, this timeline only applies to public schools, and private institutions continue to hold the authority to determine their own academic year schedules.