The proposed three-term school calendar is a major reform in how the school year is organized. It goes beyond simply changing dates. Instead, it improves how time is used in basic education by dividing the year into clearer and more purposeful periods.
Its main goal is to protect teaching time, reduce unnecessary interruptions, and create a more manageable school schedule for learners, teachers, and schools. As a result, schools can support more consistent instruction and make better use of learning time.
A key part of this reform is the reorganization of the Budget of Work (BOW) from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Under the three-term school calendar, the BOW is realigned so that learning competencies, lessons, and classroom activities are distributed more evenly across the year. In turn, this gives teachers and schools a clearer guide for instruction in each term. It also helps ensure that classroom teaching stays aligned with the new calendar structure.
The reorganized BOW also promotes more realistic pacing. Instead of compressing lessons or making repeated adjustments due to interruptions, teachers can plan learning activities more effectively across the three terms. In addition, this supports better lesson delivery, assessment, remediation, and enrichment throughout the school year.
Kindergarten to Grade 3
The Budget of Work for Kindergarten to Grade 3 supports the early foundations of learning within the three-term school calendar. At this stage, the focus is on developing essential skills in literacy, numeracy, communication, and socio-emotional growth. To support this, instruction must remain age-appropriate, well-paced, and responsive to learner needs.
By spreading competencies and classroom activities more evenly across the three terms, the BOW helps create a structured and supportive learning environment for young learners. It gives them enough time to build core skills step by step. At the same time, it helps teachers maintain a steady and manageable pace of instruction.
For teachers, the reorganized Budget of Work for Kindergarten to Grade 3 serves as a clear guide for daily instruction, learner monitoring, and timely support. It aligns lessons with the Opening Block, Instructional Block, and End-of-Term Block in each term. Because of this, teachers can better balance teaching, assessment, intervention, and enrichment.
Budget of Work (BOW) for Kindergarten to Grade 1
Budget of Work (BOW) for GRADE 2
Budget of Work (BOW) for GRADE 3
