Classes in public schools begin June 1

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) has released the academic calendar of public elementary and high schools for school year 2015-2016, with the opening of classes set on June 1.

In a department order released on April 1, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the coming school year will have 201 school days, and will end on April 1, 2016.

“Private schools may deviate from this school calendar. However, they may not start classes earlier than the first Monday of June and not later than the last day of August, as provided in Republic Act 7797,” the order read.

Should there be any deviation, these schools must first notify DepEd officials.

Meanwhile, Christmas break for elementary and high school public schools will begin December 19, and classes will resume after on January 4, 2016.

Summer classes in 2016 will run for 36 days from April 11 to May 21. The classes consist of 3-hour daily sessions per subject area from Monday to Saturday.

Schools may observe “national and local celebrations, holidays and advocacy activities” but should not compromise the 201 school days.

“Make-up classes can therefore be conducted to compensate for the school days spent for activities deemed beneficial to the learning-teaching process,” Luistro said in the order.

The department also recommends schools to conduct make-up classes for when classes are cancelled or suspended due to natural and man-made calamities.

You can check the complete school calendar for school year 2015-2016 here. – Jee Y. Geronimo/Rappler.com

Calendar image from Shutterstock