The Department of Education has released the official school calendar for School Year 2015-2016. Secretary of Education Armin Luistro issued Department Order No. 9, s. 2015, which states that the official school year begins on June 1, 2015 and ends April 1, 2016.
Heads of public and private elementary and secondary institutions nationwide are directed to follow the school calendar through the department order.
On the other hand, private schools may choose to deviate from DepEd’s official calendar. However, they may not start classes before the first Monday of June and not later than the last day of August (as provided in Republic Act No. 7797).
The important dates for SY 2015-2016 are as follows:
2015
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2016
January
February
March
April
May
Special week-, month-long observances
Also, through the said department order, elementary and secondary schools are instructed to observe the following week- and month-long activities as mandated by law:
| Month | Activity |
| May 2015 | Palarong Pambansa National Schools Maintenance Week (Brigada Eskwela) Stakeholders’ Orientation on Ktol2/Basic Enhanced Education Curriculum INSET/Planning Week National Flag Day Celebration (May 28) |
| June | Opening of Classes Commemoration of the Philippine Independence Day Celebration World Environment Day (June 12) Safe Kids Week PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) Pambansang Gawad sa Ulirang Kabataan (National Level Competition) Nationwide Search for the Outstanding W.A.T.C.H Schools (National Level Competition) Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Galicano Apacible (June 25) Commemoration of the Historic Siege of Baler and Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day (June 30) |
| July | Career Guidance Week National Nutrition Month National Disaster and Preparedness Month National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week Science and Technology Week Savings Credit Consciousness Week Eid’l Fitr (Legal Holiday) (Tentative) PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Apolinario Dela Cruz (Hermano Puli) (July 22) Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Apolinario Mabini (July 23) |
| August | International Indigenous Peoples Day History Month Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon (August 19) 1st Quarter Examinations ASEAN Day Sight Saving Month Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa White Cane Safety Day International Youth Day Ninoy Aquino Day (Special Non-Working Holiday) Commemoration of the National Heroes Day (August 25) National Heroes Day (Regular Holiday) National Career Assessment Examination PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) |
| September | National Teachers’ Month (September 5-October 5) National Crime Prevention Week (September 1-7) Commemoration of the Opening of Malolos Congress (September 15) Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law (September 23) Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Gen. Miguel Malvar (September 27) Clean and Green Month Literacy Month Science and Math Week Linggo ng Kasuotang Filipino History Week International Day of Peace Eid’l Adha (Legal Holiday) (Tentative) PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) Family Week |
| October | National Indigenous People Month Consumer Welfare Month Elderly Filipino Week (October 1-7) Commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landing (October 20) Children’s Month Clean and Green Month Scouting Month Week of the Elderly Global Handwashing Day National Health Education Week National Leadership Training for Student Government Officers (Saturday and Sunday) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Consciousness Week 2nd Quarter Examinations National Level Science and Math Fair (Secondary Level) Mid-Year Assessment and INSET/Semestral Break (For Students Only) PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) |
| November | National Observance of Deaf Awareness Week (November 10-16) National Reading Month Filipino Values Month Malaria Awareness Month Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week National Youth Day PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) National Music Competition for Young Artists (National Level Competition) National Week for the Gifted and Talented National Clean Month/National Environmental Awareness Month Araw ng Pagbasa ((November 27) Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Andres Bonifacio (November 30) |
| December | National Children’s Day of Broadcasting Linggo ng Kabataan World AIDS Day Education Week Human Rights Week International Day of Persons with Disabilities Historical, Cultural, and Arts Festival of Excellence (RNFE) (National Level Competition) PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal (December 30) |
| January 2016 | National Cancer Consciousness Week Autism Consciousness Week Breast Cancer Consciousness Week 3rd Quarter Examinations Early Registration Day (Saturday) PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Inauguration of the First Philippine Republic (January 23) |
| February | National Dental/Oral Health Month Adoption Consciousness Celebration (February 7) National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (February 10-14) Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Martyrdom of GOMBURZA (February 17) Commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution (February 22-25) Philippine Arts Month Premyo Rizal Writing Contests (National Level Competition) National Children with Intellectual Disabilities Week Bantay Puso Week Leprosy Prevention Week PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) |
| March | Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Paciano Rizal (March 9) National Achievement Test (Grades 6 and 10) Language Assessment for Primary Grades (Grade 3) Women’s Month Fire Prevention Month Global Peace Festival Career Guidance Week Girl Child Week Maundy Thursday Good Friday Graduation Ceremonies PNOY IB Trees Project (Saturday) |
| April | Commemoration of the Birth Anniversary of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar (April 2) National Disability Week National Children’s Book Week National Festival of Talents National Schools Press Conference Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan and Philippine Veterans Week (April 5-11) Start of Summer Classes |
| May | Palarong Pambansa Labor Day (Regular Holiday) End of Summer Classes Final Examinations (Summer Classes) National Flag Day Celebration (May 28) |
For more information about the department order, you may visit this link.