Guidelines on Adoption of School Calendar
CHED Memorandum Order No. 001-11, issued on February 15, 2011, provides guidelines for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines to establish their own academic calendars. It allows flexibility in the academic schedule while ensuring that the minimum requirements for course hours and units are met. For institutions using a semestral system, the academic year must consist of at least 36 weeks, while those adopting alternative systems like summer or trimestral terms must inform the CHED Regional Office of their schedules. The memorandum amends previous regulations and emphasizes the importance of academic freedom and innovation among HEIs.
February 15, 2011
CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 001-11
| SUBJECT | : | Guidelines on Adoption of School Calendar |
Pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994", and Commission en Banc Resolution No. 019-2011 dated 27 January 2011 and in order to encourage innovation and exercise of academic freedom among institutions of higher learning, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) may establish their own academic calendars and set their opening days, subject to the following guidelines:
1. Any term for collegiate courses shall cover the number of hours per unit for all units prescribed in the relevant Policies, Standards & Guidelines (PSGs).
A total of not less than (17) lecture or recitation hours in a term shall be equivalent to one unit of college credit. Two or three hours of laboratory work, drafting, shop or field work shall be equivalent to one hour of classroom lecture or recitation work.
2. For HEIs adopting semestral system:
The academic year for collegiate courses shall consist of not less than thirty-six (36) weeks, or eighteen (18) weeks a semester, or its equivalent of normally six (6) school days each week, exclusive of approved vacations and inclusive of legal and special holidays and days for special activities. In any case, the total number of days on which regular school sessions are held shall not be less than two hundred (200) per calendar year or one hundred (100) each semester, exclusive of all holidays and registration days, and class days suspended due to natural or man-made causes. (CHED Memorandum Order No. 40, series of 2008).
3. For HEIs adopting summer, trimestral or quarterly terms:
The concerned CHED Regional Office (CHEDRO) should be properly informed in writing of their particular schedules and the required minimum number of class hours and class days as stipulated in the relevant PSGs should be satisfied.
4. For HEIs adopting other modes of delivery:
The concerned CHEDRO should be properly informed in writing of their particular schedules and delivery schemes and/or modules, and programs to be offered via said delivery schemes should have prior approval of the Commission en Banc, as stipulated in the relevant PSGs.
Attached is a sample Collegiate Calendar for Academic Year 2011-2012 for reference.
This CMO amends sections 78 and 79 of the CMO no. 40, series of 2008, Manual of Regulations (MOR) for Private Higher Education.
This order shall take effect immediately until otherwise revoked.
Quezon City, Philippines, February 15, 2011.
(SGD.) PATRICIA A. LICUANAN, Ph.D.ChairpersonCommission on Higher Education
ATTACHMENT
Collegiate Calendar for AY 2011-2012