DepEd: Early childhood support vital as K–10 curriculum pilot nears final phase

Strengthening early childhood education remains a priority of the government’s education reform agenda as the Revised K–10 Curriculum enters the final phase of its pilot implementation for School Year 2025–2026, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Thursday.

In a statement, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said curriculum reforms in the early grades must address learning standards, learner readiness, nutrition, and classroom conditions, as these factors significantly affect learning outcomes.

He noted that although curriculum reforms take years to show full impact, persistent challenges in reading and numeracy particularly in the early grades require immediate interventions.

Angara said the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed that education reforms should translate into tangible improvements at the classroom level amid ongoing broader system changes.

The DepEd reported that learner nutrition is being treated as a core input to education rather than a supplementary program.

For SY 2025-2026, around 3.47 million learners, including all kindergarten pupils, received hot meals, while 2.85 million learners benefited from milk feeding under the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP).

The agency also noted that kindergarten enrollment rose to 1.98 million learners, the highest recorded in the past four years.

Beginning SY 2026-2027, the DepEd plans to further expand the SBFP and target 4.64 million learners nationwide, including all Kindergarten and Grade 1 pupils.

The DepEd said the expansion reflects the government’s position that strong foundations in the early years are essential to the long-term success of curriculum reforms.

It said these early interventions are aligned with the Revised K–10 Curriculum’s increased focus on essential competencies in reading and mathematics during the formative years.

The DepEd also reported ongoing efforts to strengthen learning recovery programs, ensure the timely delivery of learning materials, expand access to digital tools, and improve mental health support for both learners and teachers as part of the broader transition to the revised curriculum.

It added that it is enhancing play-based learning in early education through the awarding of 228,740 sets of kindergarten educational toys and 2,216,383 kindergarten activity sheets nationwide.

The agency also procured digital and classroom support items under the DepEd Computerization Program, including more than 33,000 laptops for teaching personnel, 5,000 laptops for non-teaching staff, and 30,000 smart televisions.

Around 1.3 million Science and Mathematics Equipment (SME) packages are also being distributed to public schools.

Angara added that sustained support for early childhood education, teachers, and school leaders is critical to ensuring that curriculum reforms lead to lasting improvements in learning outcomes. — JMA, GMA Integrated News