Tacloban: About 55,000 basic education students in this city returned to school on Monday as classes officially opened for the new academic year. Department of Education (DepEd) Tacloban Schools Division Superintendent Sherlita Palma said the opening of classes across the city's public schools proceeded smoothly after weeks of preparation.

According to Philippines News Agency, Palma expressed her observations on the first day of classes, noting the enthusiasm among students after a two-month vacation. She highlighted the successful conduct of Brigada Eskwela, an initiative where parents, teachers, local communities, and private-sector partners collaborated to clean and repair classrooms. Palma also led the first flag-raising ceremony of the academic year at Leyte National High School (LNHS), the largest secondary school in Eastern Visayas, which accommodates nearly 9,000 learners.

The number of enrollees, which stands at 55,000, is based on last school year's report. The DepEd field office is in the process of consolidating the actual student population report. LNHS Principal Bayani Adona mentioned the school's readiness for the new term, aided by approximately 200 beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. These workers contributed by cleaning, repairing, and preparing the school facilities.

Palma further mentioned that Tacloban's public schools are set to implement a new three-term academic calendar. Around 2,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel participated in orientation sessions conducted by DepEd central office personnel to familiarize themselves with the revised academic calendar structure. The new academic year will run from June 8, 2026, to April 8, 2027, allotting 201 days for classroom instruction. The school year will still be divided into four academic quarters, now organized into three academic terms.