DepEd Releases Calendar, Plus What To Expect For School Year 2021-2022

The Department of Education (DepEd) has released this year's calendar for School Year 2021-2022, the country's second year of distance learning.

With the first day of school set on September 13 by President Rodrigo Duterte, schools all over the country were given ample time to prepare. It also marks the movement of the school year from June to September for all public schools, a move that has been in the works since 2014, starting with a select number of colleges and universities.

Guidelines for school year 2021-2022

While private schools, universities, and colleges have the option to choose their own date for the first day of school, public schools abide to the date set by the DepEd. There will be 209 school days for the school year, with the tentative date of the last school day slated for June 24, 2022.

Saturdays are included within the 209 school days. The DepEd Order No. 29 entitled “School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2021 – 2022” says:

“With the compressed school year, the conduct of distance learning activities for learners on Saturdays is authorized. Should religious considerations prevent activities on a Saturday, they may be conducted on a Sunday. Nonetheless, teachers will not be required to render service on Saturdays and Sundays.”

Students in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) will also begin on Sept. 13.

Career fairs for incoming Senior High students

Parents with children in Grades 9 and 10 will be happy to know their kids will get assistance before choosing their Senior High School track. As the guidelines state, “Career guidance activities shall be conducted between October 2021 and January 2022 to guide Grades 9 and 10 learners.” Students in Grade 12 will also participate in “college and middle-level skills fair, job fair, business and entrepreneurship expo, and similar activities.”

Remedial classes and breaks

Christmas break is declared to be on December 20, 2021, and will end on January 2, 2022. A mid-year break has been declared for January 31 until February 5, 2022, also in time for the celebration of Chinese New Year.

There will also be a break for election-related activities, slated for May 2 to 13, 2022. Remedial classes for public schools will be from July 4, 2022, to August 12, 2022 only.

According to the guidelines, face-to-face classes are still not allowed, “unless permitted by the Office of the President.” 

DepEd school calendar for 2021-2022 

August 2021

August 13 — Start of Enrollment Period
August 3 — Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela
August 21 — Ninoy Aquino Day
August 30 — National Heroes Day

September 2021

TBA — Accreditation and Equivalency Test (A&E)
September 1-30 — Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela

September 13

• End of Enrollment Period
• Opening of Classes
• Start of Academic Quarter 1

October 2021

October 5 — World Teachers’ Day
TBA - Start of Career Guidance Orientation for Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 

November 2021 

November 1 — All Saints Day (Regular Holiday)
November 2 — All Souls Day (Special Working Day)
November 12 — End of Academic Quarter 2
November 15 — Start of Academic Quarter 2
November 27 — Parent-Teacher Conference / Distribution of Report Cards
TBA — Accreditation and Equivalency Test (A&E)
November 3 — Bonifacio Day (Regular Holiday)

December 2021

December 8 — Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion (Special Non-working Day)
December 20 —Start of Christmas Break
December 25 — Christmas Day (Regular Holiday)
December 30 — Rizal Day (Regular Holiday)

January 2022

January 1 — New Year’s Day (Regular Holiday)
January 3 — Resumption of classes
January 28 — End of Academic Quarter 2
TBA — NAT 12
January 31 — Mid-year Break

February 2022

February 1 — Chinese New Year (Special Non-working day)
February 2-5 — Mid-year Break
February 7 — Start of Academic Quarter 3
February 12 — Parent-Teacher Conference / Distribution of Report Cards
February 25 — People Power Anniversary (Special Non-working Day)

March 2022

March 28-May 30 — Administration of PISA in Selected Schools

April 2022

April 8 — End of Academic Quarter 3
April 9 — The Day of Valor (Regular Holiday)
April 11 — Start of Academic Quarter 4
April 14 — Maundy Thursday (Regular Holiday)
April 15 — Good Friday (Regular Holiday)
April 16 — Black Saturday (Regular Holiday)
April 23 — Parent-Teacher Conference/Distribution of Report Cards
TBA — Administration of Early Language Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA), NAT 6 & 10

May 2022

May 1 — Labor Day (Regular Holiday)
May 2-6, 10-13 — National Elections and related activities
May 9 — National Elections

June 2022

June 12 — Independence Day
June 23 — End of Academic Quarter 4 and School Year
June 27-July 2 — End of School Year Rites 

July 2022

July 1-2 — End of School Year Rites
July 4 — Start of Remedial / Advancement Classes

August 2022

August 12 — End of Remedial / Advancement Classes for the summer

Click here for where to call, email, and text DepEd about the school opening.