BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. officially opened School Year 2025–2026 at Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School (EDSES) in Malate, Manila, on Monday, as the Department of Education (DepEd) highlighted major education reforms aimed at creating a better learning environment for Filipino students and teachers.

“Ang buong pamahalaan, lalo na basta sa edukasyon, lahat ng mga departamento, mula DOH, DSWD, DTI, DOTr, PNP, DICT, hanggang sa Office of the President, ay nakabantay sa inyong lahat para tiyakin na lahat ng mga pangangailangan lalong lalo ng mga kabataan ay mapaabot naming,” the President said during his virtual interaction with select principals nationwide.

DepEd, under President Marcos’ directive, has implemented various reforms to support both learners and educators. These include mandatory easier and cost-friendly enrollment process, health assessments for students, early delivery of laptops, smart TVs, and other digital tools to schools, increased medical and teaching allowances for teachers, the hiring of more teachers and administrative staff, and workload rationalization. DepEd will also pilot a strengthened senior high school curriculum this school year to improve readiness for college and employment.

“Malaking pasasalamat natin kay Pangulong Marcos sa mga repormang agad niyang itinulak para sa edukasyon. Mas mararamdaman ito ng ating ng mga guro at mag-aaral ngayong balik-eskwela. Kasama na dyan ang ang dagdag-suporta, kagamitan, at mga polisiyang nagpapagaan sa araw-araw nilang karanasan sa paaralan,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

President Marcos toured EDSES, one of Manila’s oldest public elementary schools, joined by Secretary Angara, DepEd officials, and the school’s personnel. The visit included a classroom engagement with Grade 1 learners, a briefing on school safety systems, and a virtual interaction with selected schools from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The visit highlighted the government’s push to ensure that schools are safe, functional, and ready to welcome learners nationwide. Over 27 million learners are expected to return to classrooms this year across around 48,000 public and 12,000 private schools.

School Year 2025-2026 marks the country’s first return to a June opening since the academic calendar was adjusted during the COVID-19 pandemic, a move made after listening to widespread calls from teachers, parents, and learners to avoid extreme weather disruptions and restore academic continuity.

The opening proceeded smoothly across regions, following weeks of preparation through the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela, which mobilized local communities, schools, and government agencies to repair classrooms, clean campuses, and resolve logistical issues in time for the start of classes.

Secretary Angara also noted the positive start to the school year, citing the collaborative effort across all levels of government and local communities.

“Alam nating mahirap ang paghahanda, pero mas maayos ang pasukan ngayong taon dahil sa tulong-tulong na kilos ng lahat—ni Pangulong Marcos, guro, magulang, LGU, at mga ahensya. Sobrang laki ng naitulong ng Brigada Eskwela at Oplan Balik Eskwela,” he said.

Key national and local agencies also contributed to school readiness, including the DILG, DOH, PNP, NDRRMC, PAGASA, DICT, Meralco, MWSS, DOE, NTC, DOTr, MMDA, PCO, DTI, DSWD, and DPWH—supporting everything from traffic management and utility connections to school safety and learner welfare.

Meanwhile, as of June 14, the 2025 Oplan Balik Eskwela Public Assistance Command Center, a total of 1,690 concerns were raised by parents, learners, and school personnel. Of these, 1,406 were resolved on the spot as DepEd was able to address promptly through coordinated efforts with schools and field offices.

The Department will continue to monitor the opening of classes through field office command centers and provide immediate response to school-level concerns. With renewed momentum and the strong support of stakeholders, DepEd commits to strengthening the quality and continuity of basic education for every Filipino learner.

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from DepEd