With 15 percent of schools yet to report enrolment date, the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office No. V reported last week that more than 61,000 learners attended the first three days of classes in the Schools Division Office of Catanduanes.
As of June 11, 2026, based on real-time submissions to the Learner Information System (LIS) from nearly 85 percent of formal schools and Alternative Learning System (ALS) coordinators, the 61,339 total for Catanduanes is broken down as follows: Kinder, 3,406; Grades 1-3, 13,118; Grades 4-6, 15,178; Non-Graded, 231; Grades 7-10, 19,948; Grades 11-12, 8.879; and ALS, 679.
The island’s two biggest schools, Virac Pilot Elementary School (VPES) and Catanduanes National High School (CNHS) have already logged a total of 1,277 pupils and 5,723 students, respectively, as of
In the entire Bicol region, over 1.36 million learners have already registered as of the same date, with regional official projecting total enrolment to reach a population of 1,638,086 learners composed of 891,456 in the elementary level, 517,603 in Junior High School, and 229,027 in Senior High School.
For School Year 2026-2-37, the learners will be studying their lessons under a simplified three-term school calendar focusing on improved learning continuity and well-being for students and teachers.
A review of the previous four-quarter calendar had revealed limitations, including recurring class disruptions that compress instructional time and contribute to learning gaps. Increased teacher workload, and reduced learning engagement.
DepEd Bicol officials said that the new system is designed to be easy to follow while addressing persistent challenges in classroom delivery and has defined phases that balance instruction, assessment, and rest.
Term 1 began last June 8 and will end on April 8, 2027, for a total of 201 class days, although adjustments may be made later due to unforeseen circumstances.
The Opening Block at the start of Term consists of four days dedicated to non-academic but essential activities such as classroom orientation, baseline assessments, and parent-teacher engagement.
This will be followed by the Instructional Block. a 54-day instructional period devoted to uninterrupted teaching and learning activities, with structured Academic Recovery for Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program remediation sessions included for all grade levels and conducted after classes for 30-60 minutes on designated days two to four times per week.
School-related activities and learner support programs like School=Based Feeding Program, mental health services and the like shall be strategically scheduled within the block preferably outside class hours to minimize disruption to instructional time.
Each term shall end with a two-week End-of-Term Block of 8-10 days for ARAL Program sessions, computation of grades and completion of school forms, co=curricular and extracurricular activities, distribution of Progress or Performance Reports, In-Service Training for Teachers (INSET), and wellness breaks for learners (4 days) and teachers (2 days).
Terms 2 and 3 will follow a similar structure but will begin directly with instructional days, eliminating the need for another opening block.
Term 2 will run from September to December 2026, while Term 3 will cover January to April 2027.
DepEd stated that the new calendar will help minimize overlapping activities which often disrupt lesson flow and impact learning outcomes.
In addition to the calendar revision, the education department is also implementing reforms in student assessment and recognition systems to align them with a more holistic approach to education.
For Grades 1 to 3, the department will utilize descriptive ratings instead of numerical grades, emphasizing the development of foundational skills over ranking performance.
For Grades 4 to 12, a combination of numerical and descriptive grading will be adopted, with a gradual move toward eliminating the “transmutation system”—a grading adjustment method—by the 2027–2028 school year. This change will ensure that student report cards more accurately reflect actual performance.
The awards system is also being restructured. Academic awards will no longer be given in Grades 1 to 3, placing greater emphasis on behavioral development and values formation.
For higher grade levels, academic awards will be maintained, but rankings will be eliminated; recognition will be awarded in alphabetical order instead of using titles like valedictorian and salutatorian.