DepEd opens consultation for revised SHS curriculum

The Department of Education (DepEd) has opened the online public consultation for the revised Senior High School (SHS) curriculum under the basic education program which is set to be piloted in School Year 2025-2026. 

The DepEd shared a 26-page consultation packet of the “strengthened” program for Grades 11 and 12, that could be accessed online from April 4 to April 11, 2025.  

The agency invited the public to share its feedback on the revised SHS curriculum, which underwent a review for years in order to provide “more effective and responsive education for Filipino youth.” 

“To participate, we recommend starting with the Consultation Packet for an overview of the proposed changes. However, you may also review the Curriculum Guides directly before proceeding to the Consultation Platform to submit your comments,” DepEd said. 

Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said that the phased implementation of the revised SHS curriculum for senior high school is set to begin in SY 2025-2026. 

However, based on the consultation packet, the pilot implementation will start in SY 2025-2026, and based on the initial results of the pilot, DepEd will announce if all senior high schools will subsequently be required to implement the new curriculum by SY 2026-2027.

Among the key features of the revised SHS program is the streamlining of the core subjects from the previous 15 per semester, to just 5 per year to provide more time for the most essential topics.

The five proposed core subjects are: Effective Communication (Mabisang Komunikasyon), Life Skills, General Mathematics, General Science, and Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino. 

All subjects that are no longer part of the core will already be called “electives,” instead of applied and specialized subjects, said DepEd. 

The new subjects or electives have also been updated and grouped under the Academic and TechPro clusters. 

The agency also adjusted the time allotment for the core and electives to better meet the requirements of the curriculum. 

Under the new curriculum, students will also be allowed to take up any subject from any of the clusters of subjects offered by their school. The learners may also avail of a “doorway option” wherein they will take subjects from the other strand. 

The DepEd first launched the revised K-10 curriculum of the K-12 program in August 2023.

Under the re-calibrated K-10 curriculum, which is now in its phased implementation, the number of learning competencies was reduced by 70% from around 11,700 to 3,600.

The DepEd also cut down the number of subjects, with greater emphasis given on the development of Kinder to Grade 3 learners' foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills.—RF, GMA Integrated News