THE DEPARTMENT of Education on Monday said private schools in the country may adopt the new academic calendar of public schools.

The DepEd returned to its original school calendar from June to March, with school breaks set from April to May, according to its Department Order (DO) No. 12, series of 2025.

The DO said classes for school year (SY) 2025-2026 will start on June 16 and will end on March 31 next year.

In a Viber message, DepEd Media Relations Chief Dennis Legaspi said the DO only applies to public schools but may also be used by private schools.

“Private schools may adopt DepEd’s school calendar. They may also set their start of classes, provided they comply with the School Calendar Law, which states that the school year shall start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August,” he said.

Besides private schools, DO 12 stated that Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs) and state or local universities and colleges (SUCs/LUCs) may also adopt the said multi-year implementing guidelines.

Overall, the return to the old public-school calendar will consist of 197 class days, including the End-of-School-Year (EOSY) Rites.

Under Republic Act (RA) 7797 or An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from Two Hundred (200) Days to Not More than Two Hundred Twenty (220) Class Days, as amended by RA 11480 or An Act Amending Section 3 of RA 7797, school classes must not exceed to 220 class days. (PNA)