Too Many School Events Cut Into Learning Time, Says Education Commission

School celebrations, competitions, and rehearsals are taking weeks away from lessons, leaving Filipino students with less time to focus on core subjects, said the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) in its Final Report.

EDCOM 2 found that public schools now operate with an average of only around 191 class days per year. Some regions lose up to 42 days because of disasters or legislated activities. Teachers are forced to compress an already packed curriculum into fewer days, reducing time for essential lessons.

The report notes:

“Around 150 legislated activities and school celebrations crowd an already shortened school year, eroding engaged time on task despite long-standing policies that sought to protect instructional time.”

Also read: EDCOM 2’s 10-Year Plan Seeks to End Mass Promotion in Philippine Schools

Many school events move from the school level to division, regional, and national competitions. This requires tryouts, practices, and documentation, which multiply the time students and teachers are excused from regular classes.

Teachers describe the impact clearly:

“How can learning happen when every week is interrupted by contests, practices, and programs? Teachers are pulled in all directions, learners lose weeks of class time, and in the end, learning is the first to suffer.”

“Hindi lang contest day ang nawawala pati practice weeks, planning days, at walang katapusang meetings. Habang ilang piling bata ang nag-eexcel, libo-libong struggling learners ang lalo pang nahuhuli. Busy ang lahat pero hindi ibig sabihin may natututuhan.”

Even activities intended to be short take extra time. Araw ng Pagbasa, for example, is designed as a one-hour classroom activity, but preparation and reporting often extend much longer and displace lessons. Large-scale events such as the National Schools Press Conference, Palarong Pambansa, and the National Festival of Talents also take place during the school year. Policies recommend contests be held outside class hours, but students and coaches are often excused for practices, eliminations, and travel days.

EDCOM 2 also highlights the growing number of themed weeks and months in schools, covering topics from health and environment to literacy and youth. Many of these activities have overlapping goals but no clear guidance on prioritization relative to the core curriculum.

Without guidance, schools are forced to make informal trade-offs, often reducing time for foundational skills such as reading, writing, and math. This is particularly concerning for struggling students, who are most affected when lessons are shortened or rescheduled.

EDCOM 2 urges the education system to rethink how activities are scheduled, integrate celebrations into lessons where possible, and ensure contests do not take away from core instruction. The goal is simple: students should have the time they need to learn essential skills while still enjoying the benefits of school programs.

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