From module to online distance learning, schools slowly return to in-person classes to ensure that learners receive quality and standard education. However, transitioning from online distance to face-to-face learning modality won’t be easy as learners have yet to adjust. Private educational institutions also face difficulties in operations as the COVID-19 pandemic affected their investments. That’s why the Department of Education promulgated the DepEd Order 22, series 2023, to assist schools in transitioning to in-person learning.
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This order encloses the School Calendar and Activities for the School Year 2023-2024 for schools and learning centers. It guides the learning delivery modalities schools should implement and the observance of national and local holidays. With this policy, DepEd also enclosed the activities schools should conduct in preparation for the opening of classes and administer assessments for each grade level. Aside from that, DepEd Order 22 declares the dates for general assembly, PTA conferences, professional development for teachers, Christmas, and the end of the school year break.
What is DepEd Order 22
On August 4, 2023, the Department of Education (DepEd) issued the DepEd Order (DO) 22, series (s.) 2023, or the Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for the School Year 2023-2024. This policy guides schools and community learning centers (CLCs) in implementing school activities. It also helps maximize instructional time to efficiently and effectively implement the objectives and goals of the DepEd MATATAG Agenda.
The DepEd Order 22 applies to all public elementary and secondary schools and CLCs throughout the Philippines. Furthermore, DepEd encourages private schools, state/local colleges, and universities to adopt the policy guidelines. However, they should stay within the provisions specified in the Republic Act (RA) No. 11480, providing the school calendar should be at most 220 class days.
Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for the School Year 2023–2024
As per RA 11480, educational institutions are mandated to commence the school year (SY) 2023-2024 on August 29, 2023, Tuesday, and shall conclude on June 14, 2024, Friday. Moreover, the Alternative Learning System (ALS) should formally start on the same date as the public formal basic education, August 29, 2023.
Learning Delivery Modalities
The policy forces all schools to implement in-person learning as the primary learning delivery modality. But private schools can still apply paragraph 2 of DO 44, s. 2022 for SY 2023-2024, allowing the continuous implementation of in-person classes or Blended Learning Delivery Modality (BLDM). Meanwhile, schools and CLCs can automatically implement BLDM if authorized authorities and local government units (LGUs) declare suspension or cancellation of in-person classes due to natural or human-induced disasters.
National and Local Celebration Holidays
DepEd Order 22 also states that schools and CLCs should only observe national and local holidays when declared by law or lGU.
Preparations for the Opening of Classes
Public schools should perform the following activities to prepare for the opening of classes:
- Early Registration of Learners – All public and elementary and secondary schools should conduct early registration for all incoming Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7, and 11 learners from May 10 to June 9, 2023, allowing DepEd to prepare and adjust for the incoming SY. Meanwhile, Grades 2 to 6, 8 to 10, and 12 are pre-registered and no longer need to partake in the early registration.
- Enrollment – The enrollment should commence on August 7, 2023, and end on August 26, 2023. After submitting the required supporting documents for enrollment, schools and CLCs should expedite the registration process of learners into the Learner Information System (LIS).
- Brigada Eskwela – Under the Adopt-A-School Program, DepEd requires schools to conduct the Brigada Eskwela on August 14-19, 2023. The program’s theme is “Bayaniahn Para sa MATATAG na Paaralan.” This program initiates the collaboration and participation of DepEd personnel and stakeholders, such as school officials, teachers, students, parents, community members, private individuals, local government officials, and non-government organizations to ensure school readiness.
- Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) – This program is an annual initiative implemented from August 14 to August 26, 2023. It requires the participation of organizations, agencies, and other stakeholders to prepare for the opening of classes.
Classroom-Based and System Assessment
The Bureau of Education Assessment (BEA) should perform the following assessments to monitor learners progress:
Early Language Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA) – is a staged assessment implemented at the end of Grade 3 to determine if learners met the learning standards in early language, literacy, and numeracy. BEA should also implement this assessment for Grade 4 learners three (3) weeks after the classes start.
- National Achievement Test (NAT) – assesses 21st-century skills of Grade 6, 10, and 12 learners, including problem-solving, information literacy, and critical thinking, to determine if they obtain the said learning standards. After three (3) weeks from the opening of classes, BEA should administer NAT Grades 6 and 10 to Grades 7 and 11 learners. NAT also applies to Grade 12 on the third week of the second semester.
- National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) – implemented for Grade 9 learners within October to determine their interests and aptitude, providing them with pertinent information about their abilities, skills, and reading for academic and non-academic courses.
- Accreditation and Equivalency Assessment (A&E) – administered to out-of-school youths and adults (OSYAs) to verify elementary and secondary education completion. This annual assessment is conducted in the Luzon cluster every first Sunday of October and every second Sunday of the same month in the Visayas and Mindanao clusters at SDO-designated testing centers.
- Grade Level Placement Assessment – for learners in special conditions as stated in Section 6 of DO 55, s. 2016, to ascertain their applicable grade level in the formal education system.
Apart from that, schools should administer the following to the applicable grade levels:
- Early Childhood Development (ECD) Checklist – elementary schools should administer this to Kindergarten at the start, midyear, and end of the school year.
- Phil-IRI Grouping Screening Test (GST) – As per DO 14, s. 2018 or the Implementing Guidelines on the Administration of the Revised Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI), schools should implement Filipino for Grades 3 to 6 and English for Grades 4 to 6 within the first or second month of the SY.
- Multi-Factored Assessment Tool (MFAT) – administered to Grade 1 learners one month after the class started as per DO 29, s. 2018 or the policy on the Implementation of MFAT.
Career Guidance Activities
Within the first or second quarter of the academic year, schools should administer career guidance activities to help junior high school (JHS) learners make sound decisions about their chosen track for senior high school (SHS). Thus, schools should conduct college and middle-level skills and job fairs, business and entrepreneurship expos, and other related activities.
General Assembly and PTA Conferences
Schools should conduct a general assembly at the start of SY to educate stakeholders regarding the vision, mission, core values, curriculum, and subsidiary services of DepEd that assist learners’ development. The general assembly should be at the start, midway, and end of the SY. Additionally, schools should conduct Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTC) to distribute report cards and notify parents/legal guardians about children’s learning progress and performance.
Professional Development of Teachers
Covered educational institutions should also allot a five-day annual mid-year break dedicated to spending the Midyear Performance Review and Evaluation and the School-Based In-service Training (INSET) of teachers. The Professional Development of teachers for the said school year should be from January 24-26 and January 29-30, 2024. As per DO 35, s. 2016, regardless of the modality, schools should implement the Learning Action Cell (LAC) at least once a month.
Christmas Break
Schools should start their Christmas break on December 18, 2023, and end on January 2, 2024, for SY 2023-2024, while classes must resume on January 3, 2024.
Year-End Deliberation of Awards
The School Awards Committee should conduct the deliberation of awards and recognition before ten (10) calendar days from the end of school year rites for the following:
- Learners who will receive awards and recognition
- Learners who are candidates for graduation
Also, as per DO 19, s. 2008 or the Implementation of No Collection Policy in all Public Elementary and Secondary Schools, public schools are strictly prohibited from asking learners to accomplish year-end financial clearance.
End of School Year Break
DepEd Order 22 also declares that the end of the school year break should start on June 17, 2024, and end on August 25, 2024.
Monthly School Calendar of Activities for School Year 2023-2024
Under the policy’s Enclosure No. 2, the school calendar presented contains the following markings on related dates:
- Declared holidays (X)
- Days for INSET, Co-Curricular Activities, and Home-School Collaboration Related Activities ( ⃞ )
- Days for the administration of Quarterly Examinations (△)
Enclosure No. 2: Monthly School Calendar of Activities for School Year 2023-2024
DepEd Order 22 Full Memo Download
To access and download the complete PDF of DepEd Order No. 22, series of 2023, a direct link is available on this page. By clicking the download button below, you can easily obtain a copy of DepEd Order 22in PDF format.
Full PDF DepEd 22 memo file: https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/DO_s2023_022.pdf
Video: DepEd Order 022 Series 2023 IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES ON THE SCHOOL CALENDAR AND ACTIVITIES
As discussed in the video, the department issued DepEd Order 22, enclosing the Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for the School Year 2023–2024. This order will help schools to efficiently and effectively implement academic calendars and activities. Aside from that, this policy adheres to RA 11480, which aims to lengthen the school calendar from 200 days to not more than 220 class days. It also declares that the ALS program, private schools, colleges, and universities adhere to the provisions of this policy. Hence, the DepEd Order 22 will benefit schools, teachers, parents/guardians, and learners.
Summary
As learning modality returns to face-to-face classes, the issuance of DepEd Order 22 will guide school officials, teachers, parents, guardians, learners, and other stakeholders regarding the academic year 2023-2024. This policy contains specific dates for different activities and events within the school. It enables DepEd personnel and educational institutions to prepare and adjust, ensuring school readiness before the opening of classes for SY 2023-2024. Therefore, all stakeholders and other concerned individuals should disseminate the provisions of DepEd Order 22.