The Department of Education (DepEd) has published in its website the official school calendar for School Year (SY) 2015-2016. (READ: DepEd implements new Grading System starting SY 2015-2016)
School Year 2015-2016 will be composed of 201 school days excluding summer classes, according to Department Order No. 9, s. 2015 (PDF) issued by Secretary of Education Armin Luistro on April 1, 2015. Classes for elementary and secondary students will commence on June 1, 2015, and will end on April 1, 2015.
The department order directs the heads of public and private elementary and secondary institutions nationwide to follow the school calendar.
“Private schools may deviate from this School Calendar. However, they may not start classes earlier than the first Monday of June and not later than the last day of August,” the order said. “They should also notify the appropriate DepEd officials in advance regarding any deviation.”
Secretary Luistro also said schools may observe national and local celebrations and holidays, but make sure the total number of school days shall be maintained, and make-up classes held accordingly.
For this, he said the DepEd regional office may issue a regional school calendar to make sure “the total number of school days shall not be compromised.”
The important dates for SY 2015-2016 are as follows:
| 2015 | June 1 | First day of classes |
| June 20 | First Parent-Teacher Conference | |
| August 6-7 | First Quarterly Examinations | |
| August 15 | Distribution of Report Cards Second Parent-Teacher Conference |
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| August 26 | National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) for K to 12–Grade 9 |
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| October 15-16 | Second Quarterly Examinations | |
| October 26-30 | Semestral break (for students only) | |
| October 24 | Distribution of Report Cards Third Parent-Teacher Conference |
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| December 19 | Start of the Christmas break | |
| 2016 | January 4 | Resumption of classes |
| January 7-8 | Third Quarterly Examinations | |
| January 23 | Distribution of Report Cards Fourth Parent-Teacher Conference |
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| March 2 | National Achievement Test (NAT) for Secondary – Grade 10 students |
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| March 3-4 | Fourth Quarterly Examinations for Grade 6 and Grade 10 students |
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| March 8 | LAPG for Grade 3 elementary students |
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| March 10 | NAT for Grade 6 elementary students |
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| March 17-18 | Fourth Quarterly Examinations for Grades 1-5 and Grades 7-9 students |
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| April 1 | Last day of classes Graduation |
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| April 4-8 | Distribution of Report Cards |
Rules on national, local holidays
The department order also lists down the national holidays that fall on a weekday. There will be no classes in the following dates:
| 2015 | June 12 | Independence Day |
| July 22 | Eid’l Fitr (tentative) | |
| August 21 | Ninoy Aquino Day | |
| August 25 | National Heroes Day | |
| 2016 | February 25 | EDSA Revolution Anniversary |
Elementary and secondary schools may also observe local holidays and activities, provided that the total number of school days shall be maintained and make-up classes will be held.
Special week-, month-long observances
The same department order likewise instructs elementary and secondary schools to observe the following week- and month-long activities as mandated by law:
| 2015 | June | Safe Kids Week |
| July | National Nutrition Month National Disaster and Preparedness Month |
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| Career Guidance Week National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week Science and Technology Week Savings Credit Consciousness Week |
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| August | Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa Sight Saving Month |
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| September | Literacy Month Crime Prevention Month Clean and Green Month |
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| Science and Month Week History Week Linggo ng Kasuotang Filipino |
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| October | Scouting Month Children’s Month Consumer Welfare Month Clean and Green Month |
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| Week of the Elderly National Health Education Week |
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| November | National Reading Month Filipino Values Month Malaria Awareness Month |
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| Deaf Awareness Week Drug Abuse Prevention and Awareness Week |
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| December | Education Week Human Rights Week |
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| 2016 | January | National Cancer Consciousness Week Autism Consciousness Week Breast Cancer Consciousness Week |
| February | Philippine Arts Month | |
| National Children with Intellectual Disabilities Week National Dental/Oral Week Bantay Puso Week Leprosy Prevention Week |
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| March | Women’s Month Fire Prevention Month |
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| Career Guidance Week Girl Child Week |
For more information, please refer to Department Order No. 9, s. 2015 (PDF).
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