The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced the launch of an online public consultation on the revised Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, set to run from April 4 to 11.
DepEd said that it is reviewing the SHS curriculum as part of its "commitment to providing a more effective and responsive education for Filipino youth."
This initiative aims to gather valuable insights and feedback from various stakeholders, including educators, students, parents, and the public, to ensure that the updated curriculum meets the evolving needs of the nation's education system.
“As part of this initiative, the public is invited to share their feedback on the strengthened SHS program,” DepEd said.
The consultation will focus on key adjustments designed to enhance the quality of learning and better prepare students for both higher education and the workforce.
Consultation packet
For the online review, DepEd has made a 26-page consultation packet for the "strengthened" program for Grades 11 and 12 available from April 4 to April 11.
“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.
According to the consultation packet, the pilot implementation is set to begin in SY 2025-2026. Following the initial results of the pilot, DepEd will decide whether all senior high schools will be mandated to implement the new curriculum starting SY 2026-2027.
Revised SHS Curriculum
Based on the packet, one of the key features of the revised SHS program is the reduction of core subjects from 15 per semester to just five per year, allowing more time to focus on the most essential topics.
In the revised SHS curriculum, the five proposed core subjects include Effective Communication (Mabisang Komunikasyon), Life Skills, General Mathematics, General Science, and the Study of Philippine History and Society (Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino).
DepEd said all subjects that are no longer part of the core curriculum will be categorized as "electives," rather than applied and specialized subjects.
The new subjects or electives have been updated and organized into two clusters: the Academic and TechPro clusters.
Additionally, DepEd has adjusted the time allotment for both the core subjects and electives to better align with the requirements of the curriculum.
In the revised curriculum, DepEd said students will have the flexibility to choose subjects from any of the clusters offered by their school.
Moreover, students will also have the option to take a “doorway option,” allowing them to take subjects from a different strand.