Senator Bam Aquino urged the Senate to review the Department of Education proposal to shift to a trimestral school calendar starting School Year 2026–2027, warning against rushed implementation without proper consultation.
As chair of the Senate committee on basic education, Aquino called for a Senate hearing, stressing that major academic calendar reforms must be carefully studied to avoid further disruption in the education sector.
While supporting reforms to address learning gaps and reduce teachers’ non-teaching workload, he emphasized that systemic changes should not be implemented hastily.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan filed Senate Bill 1841, or the Private Education Voucher Expansion Act, which seeks to provide financial vouchers to students from low- and middle-income families affected by overcrowded public schools.
The proposed measure aims to institutionalize a unified voucher system, prioritize aid for the most vulnerable learners, and strengthen oversight of private education under DepEd.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 16, 2026
