SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has expressed support for the government’s planned shift to a three-term school calendar beginning School Year 2026–2027, saying the move could improve learning outcomes by expanding teaching time and institutionalizing remediation periods.

In an interview, Gatchalian clarified that the proposal is not a traditional trimester system used by some private schools, but a restructured “three-term” calendar that organizes the academic year into more efficient teaching blocks.

“This is not a trimester system. It’s a three-term calendar where teaching is divided into blocks, including time for preparation and remediation,” he explained.

Under the new setup approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., each term will include dedicated periods for teachers to help students catch up—particularly in critical areas such as reading and mathematics.

Gatchalian emphasized that remediation has long been missing in the current system, where students often advance to the next level without mastering essential skills.

“Before, there was no time for remediation. Students move forward whether they know how to read or not. Now, there will be time for tutoring and catching up,” he said.

Citing findings from EDCOM 2, the senator noted that only about 60 percent of required competencies are being taught due to limited time under the existing four-term structure.

He added that reducing the number of grading periods from four to three would allow for longer teaching cycles and deeper learning.

“Teachers have been rushing lessons. With fewer terms, there will be more time to complete lessons and deepen understanding,” he said.

Beyond the calendar shift, Gatchalian also flagged the high number of holidays in the country as a factor reducing instructional time.

He noted that the Philippines observes around 22 national holidays, which can rise to 25 to 26 days when local holidays are included—equivalent to nearly a month of lost school days.

“There is a need to rationalize holidays for the sake of both education and business,” he said, adding that discussions are ongoing in the Senate.

The senator also cited frequent class suspensions due to natural disasters as another disruption to learning, reinforcing the need for a more efficient academic calendar.

Despite the changes, Gatchalian expressed optimism that the three-term system will lead to better education delivery.

“Logic dictates that it will be more efficient because teachers will have longer periods to teach,” he said.