School Year 2022-2023 To Begin August 22, Face-To-Face Classes Mandatory On November 2

Vice-President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Z. Duterte has signed the DepEd Order (DO) for the official start of classes and calendar of activities for School Year 2022-2023.

DepEd has finalized August 22, 2022 as the official start of the school year and July 7, 2023 as its end.

In accordance with its commitment to resume 5-day in-person classes, a transition period from any blended learning (3 to 4 days in-person classes with online or distance learning) or full distance learning modality can be conducted until October 31, 2022 only. After which, all schools -- public or private -- shall implement full school weeks of in-person classes beginning November 2, 2022.

The DO states, "This DO shall apply regardless of the COVID-19 alert level imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or theDepartment of Health in areas where schools are located."

In response to the pandemic, the DO has also provided "Guidelines on the Prevention of COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases," which includes:

• The strict mandatory use of face masks on-campus, and even a face shield where there are no face masks available and the entire face requires to be visible in activities;
• Keeping the classroom doors and windows open for ventilation;
• Eating separately, or eating in such a way that both faculty and students are not facing each other or speaking while eating; and,
• DOH counselling for unvaccinated learners and their families.

The full guidelines and provisions of the DO can be found here.

DepEd Calendar of Activities for SY 2022-2023

Start of Classes - August 22, 2022

This schedule applies to public schools. Private schools, community learning centers (CLCs), and state/local universities and colleges may decide to deviate from this granted they do not begin classes later than the end of August.

End of Transition Period - October 31, 2022

The option of schools to provide 5-day in-person classes, blended learning, or full distance learning can apply until this date only.

READ: Sulitin Ang School Holidays! List of SY 2022-2023 Holidays

Beginning of 5-Day In-Person Classes - November 2, 2022

The DepEd stated, "No school shall be allowed to implement purely distance learning or blended learning except for those implementing Alternative Delivery Modes [ADM] as provided in DO 21, s. 2019 (Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program) and DO 01, s. 2022 (Revised Policy Guidelines on Homeschooling Program)."

There are two DepEd-recognized ADM's, which are the Modified In-School, Off-School Approach (MIMOSA) and Enhanced Instructional Management by Parents, Community, and Teachers (e-IMPACT) MIMOSA. Homeschooling programs are also included here.

First Quarter of SY 2022-2023 - August 22 to November 5, 2022

National Heroes Day is considered a school holiday, therefore no classes will be held on August 29.

Second Quarter of SY 2022-2023 - November 7, 2022 to February 3, 2023

The Christmas break is set to begin on December 19, 2022 and classes will resume on January 4, 2023. Holidays include All Saints Day on November 1 (Tuesday), Bonifacio Day on November 30 (Wednesday), and Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 (Thursday). A midyear break is scheduled from February 6 to 10, 2023.

Third Quarter of SY 2022-2023 - February 13 to April 28, 2023

The Holy Week holidays namely Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday fall on April 6 to 8, 2023.

Fourth Quarter of SY 2022-2023 - May 2 to July 7, 2023

May 1 (Monday) is the Labor Day holiday while June 12, the Philippine Independence Day, also falls on a Monday.