The Department of Education (DepEd) officially opened School Year 2026–2027 on Monday, welcoming around 26 million learners across public and private schools nationwide. Schools prepared for the opening through classroom readiness checks, teacher deployment, distribution of learning materials, and coordination with local government units to ensure a smooth start of classes.
Government agencies also provided support for the opening of classes. The Department of Trade and Industry released a school supplies price guide to help families manage expenses, while transport and traffic authorities deployed personnel in areas expected to experience heavy congestion. Local government units assisted schools in safety measures, traffic management, and emergency response preparations, especially in areas prone to flooding during the rainy season.
DepEd Implements Wide-Ranging Education Reforms
DepEd said it is rolling out key reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes and strengthening the education system. These include the shift to a three-term academic calendar, updated assessment and grading guidelines, the Learning Continuity in Emergencies policy, simplified lesson planning through the ILAW Framework, and the nationwide implementation of an enhanced Senior High School curriculum.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the reforms are designed to make teaching more effective, improve learning delivery, and provide stronger support for educators and students. The department also highlighted additional support measures, including a P10,000 teaching allowance under the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, as well as programs aimed at easing administrative burdens on teachers.
Teachers Cite Persistent Shortages and Workload Issues
Despite the reforms, teachers and education groups raised concerns over long-standing challenges in the sector. ACT Teachers Party-list national chairperson Ruby Bernardo said shortages in classrooms, teachers, support personnel, and learning materials continue to affect the quality of education and hinder efforts to address learning gaps.
She cited estimates of a 165,000 classroom shortage, 150,000 teacher gap, and over 300,000 missing education support staff, adding that these deficiencies remain a major obstacle to improving learning outcomes. Bernardo also questioned the increasing workload of teachers, citing the implementation of new programs such as ARAL alongside existing responsibilities.
DepEd, however, maintained that its reforms aim to improve both teaching conditions and learner performance. As School Year 2026–2027 begins, education officials face the continuing challenge of ensuring that reforms translate into real improvements in classrooms nationwide.
