School year 2012–2013 starts on Monday, June 4, 2012

School year 2012–2013 for public elementary and secondary schools nationwide starts on a Monday, June 4, 2012 and ends on a Friday, March 22, 2013 comprising 200 school days, 180 days of which are non-negotiable student-teacher contact time.

This was announced by Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC as DepEd comes out with a new school calendar that synchronizes all events and teaching–learning activities to optimize the use of the prescribed 200 school days.

Private schools, on the other hand, may deviate from the school calendar. However, they are enjoined to not start earlier than June 4 and not later than the last day of August. Any deviation from this, as stipulated by DepEd Order 26, series of 2012should be relayed to DepEd.

Luistro added, “we have also allotted five days for in-service training (INSET) break and for parent-teacher conference because these are also very important activities for our teachers and parents.”

The memo also stipulated that schools may observe national, local celebrations and holidays provided that the total number of school days is maintained and that make-up classes are conducted to compensate for missed school days. Luistro added that school heads should be in school for 200 days and be on top of all school matters.

The highlights of the 2012–2013 school calendar include the Brigada Eskwela on May 21 to 26 and Oplan Balik Eskwela from May 28 to June 8. June 9 is the start of orientation on K to 12 for parents and other stakeholders. The first quarter examination is set on August 2 to 3 while the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) is on August 29.

The second quarter examination is scheduled from October 11 to 12. On October 22 to 25 the students will go on semestral break while the teachers will go through their mid-year assessment and INSET. Christmas break starts on a Saturday December 22 and classes resume on a Thursday, January 3, 2013. The third quarter examination is also set from January 12 to 13 and on January 26, DepEd will conduct the annual early registration day.

On March 6, fourth year high school students will take the National Achievement Test and on March 12 to 13, Grades 3 and 6 students will take theirs. A day after that or on March 14 to 6 will be the final examination days for Garde 6 pupils and fourth year high school students.  For Grades 1 to 5 and first year to third year high school, the last exam days are on March 20 to 21. Graduation has been set for either on March 18 or 19, 2013.