SENTOR Bam Aquino on Tuesday said the Senate is eyeing to start hearings on the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposal to shift to a trimestral academic system in March, stressing the need for broad consultations before any implementation.

In a televised interview, Aquino said the Chamber would look into the plan next month to gather the views of teachers, parents and students.

“Siguro within March, maghe-hearing na po tayo dito sa nais gawin ng DepEd… wag tong madaliin. Kailangan ng malawakang konsultasyon (Maybe within March, we will hold a hearing on what DepEd wants to do… this should not be rushed. There must be wide consultation),” he said.

Aquino clarified that DepEd does not need new legislation to revise the school calendar, noting the shift may be carried out through an administrative order.

However, he said stakeholders must first be heard to ensure smoother implementation.

He acknowledged that the proposal aims to address the reduction in effective school days due to frequent class suspensions and could help ease teachers’ workload.

Still, he relayed concerns from teachers’ groups that the current curriculum is structured for a two-semester system and would require adjustments if converted into a trimester format.

Aquino also pointed to persistent gaps in classrooms, textbooks and internet connectivity, saying these operational realities must be considered to avoid confusion and disruption in schools.

He added that giving schools one to two years to prepare could help ensure a smoother rollout. (PNA)