DepEd releases school calendar for 2017-2018

The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that academic year 2017-2018 for public elementary and high schools throughout the country will begin on June 5, 2017 and end on April 6, 2018.

This was outlined in DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones’ Department Order No.25-2017 which was released May 5. According to Briones, students will have 204 class days for the next school year, which is in line with the number of school days required by Republic Act 7797.

This includes the five-day in-service training or INSET for teachers, which is typically scheduled to coincide before the week  when All Saints’ Day falls. It will be from October 23 to 27 this year.

Briones wrote that private schools can deviate from DepEd’s official calendar provided that they begin classes not earlier than June 5 and not later than August 31. Administrators of private schools are required to notify the DepEd regional office where they are located if they choose to do so.

While schools are allowed to observe national and local celebrations, holidays and advocacy activities other than those listed in DepEd’s school calendar, the number of school days should not be affected.

“Make-up classes are recommended in lieu of no-school days due to occurrence of a natural and man-made calamities,” Briones explained in the order, adding that the mechanism for conducting these make-up classes must be agreed upon by school administrators and parents.

The incoming school year is significant in the history of DepEd because by the end of it, the first batch of Grade 12 senior high school students will be graduating.