Classes to start June 4

MANILA, Philippines - School year 2012-2013 will start on June 4, Monday, and end on March 22, a Friday, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced yesterday.

DepEd said the school year consists of 200 school days.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that the calendar synchronizes all events and teaching-learning activities to optimize the use of the prescribed 200 school days.

“We have also allotted five days for in-service training break and for parent-teacher conference because these are also very important activities for our teachers and parents,” Luistro said.

The first quarter examination is set on Aug. 2 to 3 while the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) is on Aug. 29.

The second quarter examination is scheduled from Oct. 11 to 12.

On Oct. 22 to 25 the students will go on semestral break while the teachers will go through their midyear assessment and in-service training.

Christmas break starts on a Saturday, Dec. 22 and classes resume on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013.

The third quarter examination is set from Jan. 12 to 13, and on Jan. 26 DepEd will conduct the annual early registration day.

On March 6, fourth year high school students would take the annual National Achievement Test and on March 12 to 13, Grades 3 and 6 students will take theirs.

A day after that or on March 14 to 16 will be the final examination days for Grade 6 pupils and fourth year high school students.

For Grades 1 to 5 and first year to third year high school, the last exam days are on March 20 to 21.

Graduation has been set either on March 18 or 19, 2013.

Private schools might deviate from the school calendar, but are enjoined to start not earlier than June 4 but not later than the last day of August.

Any deviation from this, as stipulated by DepEd Order No. 26 that draws up the calendar for school year 2012-2013, should be relayed to DepEd.

The memorandum also stipulated that schools might observe national, local celebrations and holidays provided that the total number of school days is maintained and make-up classes are conducted to compensate for missed days.

Luistro added that school heads should be in school for 200 days and be on top of all school matters.

The highlights of the 2012-2013 school calendar include the Brigada Eskwela on May 21 to 26 and Oplan Balik Eskwela from May 28 to June 8.

June 9 was designated as the start of orientation on the DepEd’s ambitious basic education curriculum reform program, K (Kindergarten) to 12, for parents and other stakeholders.