TDC PUSHES FOR TEACHER-FRIENDLY REFORMS IN 2025-2026 SCHOOL CALENDAR

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) has reiterated its call for reforms in the school calendar to ensure a more sustainable and teacher-friendly schedule for the upcoming school year 2025-2026. The group has submitted five key proposals to the Department of Education (DepEd) aimed at improving the system for both teachers and students.

“These recommendations aim to enhance the quality of education while ensuring the well-being of both teachers and students,” said Benjo Basas, a Caloocan City teacher and the group’s national chairperson, in a letter addressed to DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara.

Among the proposals is the inclusion of buffer days in the school calendar to accommodate adjustments in case of unforeseen events such as natural calamities or class suspensions. According to TDC, this will help schools meet the required number of class days without overburdening teachers and students with excessive make-up sessions.

The group is also pushing for periodic health breaks of at least two days at the end of each quarterly examination. TDC says these scheduled breaks will help prevent burnout and support the physical and mental well-being of both teachers and learners.

Another recommendation is to shorten the duration of in-service training (INSET), which is usually conducted for a week, to a maximum of three days. TDC says that professional development activities should be more focused and efficient, ensuring that teachers can enhance their skills without sacrificing much-needed rest and personal time.

TDC is also calling for an end to Saturday activities, such as meetings with parents or card distribution. The group insists that teachers should be given their legally mandated weekends off to recover from their weekly workload, emphasizing that adequate rest is essential for maintaining their effectiveness in the classroom.

Lastly, the group welcomed DepEd’s decision to adopt flexibility in the mandatory one-month vacation for teachers, a proposal included in their recommendations.

TDC expressed its appreciation for this development. “This flexibility ensures that teachers can properly rest and recharge without compromising their responsibilities,” Basas said, citing the approval in principle of this recommendation after their meeting with DepEd Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral.

The group remains hopeful that DepEd will consider and implement these proposals in the official school calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year.

“We hope that DepEd will maintain an open dialogue with stakeholders, especially teachers, to create a more balanced school calendar that prioritizes both the welfare of teachers and the learning conditions of students,” Basas concluded.

Source: TDC