Public school teachers' jobs safe under new SHS curriculum — DepEd

No public school teacher will lose employment as the Department of Education (DepEd) rolls out the Strengthened Senior High School (SSHS) Curriculum in all public and private senior high schools beginning School Year 2026-2027, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Wednesday.

The assurance came as DepEd announced the nationwide implementation of the revised curriculum, which seeks to provide learners with clearer pathways toward higher education, employment, entrepreneurship, skills training, and public service.

“Malinaw ang ating assurance sa public school teachers: walang mawawalan ng trabaho dahil sa SSHS curriculum,” Angara said.

(Our assurance to public school teachers is clear: no one will lose their job because of the SSHS curriculum.)

“Ang ginagawa natin ay inaayos ang curriculum para mas malinaw ang direksyon ng learners, habang sinisigurong ang ating mga guro ay may teaching load, suporta, at malinaw na role sa transition,” he added.

(What we are doing is refining the curriculum to give learners a clearer direction while ensuring that our teachers have teaching loads, support, and clear roles during the transition.)

According to DepEd, the Strengthened Senior High School Curriculum was developed in response to feedback on the previous SHS program, particularly concerns over subject congestion, fragmented offerings, and limited flexibility for learners.

Under the new framework, Academic Track students may choose from electives in areas such as Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, Business and Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Sports, Health and Wellness, and Field Experience.

Meanwhile, learners under the Technical-Professional (TechPro) Track may take electives aligned with industry needs, including agriculture, food innovation, construction, creative arts and design, hospitality and tourism, industrial technologies, information and communications technology, maritime, and human care.

DepEd said teachers currently handling streamlined core subjects may be reassigned to teach electives, support work immersion programs, manage field experiences, or assist in learning remediation efforts based on their qualifications.

The department also said private schools may similarly reassign teachers to electives and learning support functions should teaching loads be affected by the curriculum changes.

Angara said the strengthened curriculum is intended to help students better understand how their studies connect to their future plans.

“Gusto nating mas malinaw sa bawat senior high school learner kung saan papunta ang kanilang pinag-aaralan—kolehiyo man, trabaho, negosyo, skills training, o public service,” he said.

(We want every senior high school learner to have a clearer understanding of where their studies are leading them—whether to college, employment, business, skills training, or public service.)

“Hindi dapat malito ang bata sa dami ng subjects o sa pathways na hindi tugma sa kanyang pangarap. Dapat ang Senior High School ay tumutulong sa kanila na maghanda para sa totoong buhay,” he added.

(Students should not be confused by too many subjects or pathways that do not match their aspirations. Senior High School should help prepare them for real life.)

The strengthened curriculum will be implemented in all public and private senior high schools starting School Year 2026-2027. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA News