No major glitches in opening of SY 2025-26; teachers push for reforms

The opening of School Year (SY) 2025-2026 on Monday, June 16, unfolded mostly without major hitches across the country, according to Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, who credited improved coordination and prompt responses to local issues.

- By MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

However, teachers’ groups—while acknowledging the smooth start—sounded the alarm on persistent education woes that continue to undermine learning nationwide.

Speaking during a visit to Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School (EDSES) in Malate, Manila, Angara emphasized that DepEd had hotlines and local command centers fully operational to address reports in real time.

“Okay naman (It's going well),” Angara said when asked to assess this year’s school opening. “May mga hotlines tayo kung may mga reklamo, at in touch tayo sa divisions na nagrereport agad kung may problema (We have hotlines for complaints, and we're in touch with divisions that report issues immediately),” he added.