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DepEd's 2025 SHS Curriculum Revisions

The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines is set to pilot a revised Senior High School (SHS) curriculum in 800 schools for the 2025-2026 school year, aiming to better prepare students for higher education and employment. Key changes include a reduction in core subjects, expanded elective options, and increased work immersion hours to address previous curriculum overload and resource gaps. The reforms align with a broader call for educational reform to equip learners with relevant skills in a rapidly changing global landscape.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
444 views4 pages

DepEd's 2025 SHS Curriculum Revisions

The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines is set to pilot a revised Senior High School (SHS) curriculum in 800 schools for the 2025-2026 school year, aiming to better prepare students for higher education and employment. Key changes include a reduction in core subjects, expanded elective options, and increased work immersion hours to address previous curriculum overload and resource gaps. The reforms align with a broader call for educational reform to equip learners with relevant skills in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Uploaded by

Arlan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

DepEd's 2025 revised Senior High School curriculum: What

has changed and why?


Amid calls for reform, the 'strengthened' SHS curriculum will be piloted in 800 schools in SY
2025–2026

By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Published Jun 7, 2025 11:50 pm

At A Glance

 As the Philippines recalibrates its SHS program, the Department of Education (DepEd)
emphasized that the goal remains clear: to prepare Filipino youth not only for academic success
but also for meaningful employment, entrepreneurship, and responsible citizenship in a rapidly
evolving world.

Stakeholders from the education, industry, and government sectors will closely monitor the
outcomes of the pilot implementation of the Strengthened SHS Curriculum starting in SY
2025–2026. (DepEd file photo)

To address long-standing issues in the implementation of the Senior High School (SHS) program since
its nationwide rollout nearly a decade ago, the Department of Education (DepEd) is set to pilot its
strengthened SHS curriculum in 800 schools nationwide for School Year (SY) 2025–2026.

According to DepEd, the major overhaul of the SHS program will introduce significant changes aimed
at better preparing students for higher education and the workforce.

This revision comes amid growing calls for educational reform to address gaps in the current
curriculum and to equip learners with more relevant skills and knowledge in an increasingly complex
and fast-changing global landscape.

SHS pilot schools

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said that starting this June, 800 schools will pilot a streamlined and
strengthened SHS curriculum designed to better prepare Filipino learners for higher education,
employment, entrepreneurship, and technical careers.
“Hindi maganda ang naging implementation nitong nakaraang dekada (The implementation over the
past decade has not been good),” Angara said. “Masyadong marami ang subjects at nakahon masyado
ang mga bata [at] hindi sila nakakapili ng subjects (There are too many subjects, and students have
been too restricted [and] unable to choose their subjects),” he added.

With classes starting on June 16, Angara said the revised SHS curriculum will be piloted in the selected
schools. “So this June, babaguhin na natin in 800 schools na kung saan may pilot implementation ang
bagong SHS curriculum (So this June, we will implement changes in 800 schools, where the new
Senior High School curriculum will undergo pilot implementation),” he said.

The pilot program aims to give students more flexibility through expanded elective options and a
reduction in core subjects—addressing concerns that the current curriculum is overloaded and rigid.

The reforms align with the Strengthened SHS Shaping Paper, a policy framework guiding these
updates.

Why the reform?

The SHS program was introduced under the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (Republic Act
10533), extending basic education to 13 years by adding Grades 11 and 12.

The program’s goals include preparing students for various pathways—higher education, middle-level
technical roles, entrepreneurship, and employment.

Despite these intentions, several challenges emerged over the years:

- Curriculum overload: Students faced up to 31 subjects, many of which overlapped or lacked relevance
to their career interests.

- Resource gaps: Many schools lacked adequate infrastructure and specialized teachers, especially for
technical-vocational tracks.

- Weak industry linkages: A disconnect between education and labor market demands resulted in
limited economic benefits for SHS graduates.

- Learning outcomes: National and international assessments showed minimal improvements in student
competencies.
A comprehensive curriculum review by the Assessment, Curriculum, and Technology Research Centre
(ACTRC) in 2024 recommended streamlining subjects, expanding electives, increasing work
immersion hours, and promoting flexibility across learning tracks.

What’s new in the strengthened SHS curriculum?

The revised SHS curriculum focuses on flexibility, relevance, and practical skills:

- Two main tracks: Academic and Technical-Professional (TechPro), replacing the previous four-track
system.

- Reduced core subjects: From 15 to 5 interdisciplinary subjects—Effective Communication, General


Mathematics, General Science, Life and Career Skills, and Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang
Pilipino.

- Expanded electives: Grouped into clusters that allow students to tailor their learning paths, with
options to take subjects across different tracks through a “doorway option.”

(Courtesy of DepEd / The Strengthened Senior High School Program Shaping Paper)

- Extended work immersion: Increased from 80–320 hours to 320–640 hours to provide more real-
world experience and career readiness.

- Streamlined assessment: Aligned with both classroom and national standards, including a proposed
standardized exit exam for Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners.

DepEd said these reforms are intended to foster 21st-century skills such as critical thinking,
communication, collaboration, creativity, and digital literacy. The updated instructional design
emphasizes responsive, relevant, and reflective teaching aligned with global best practices.

National support and future outlook

DepEd said the SHS curriculum reform echoes President Marcos’ call for an education system that
promotes critical thinking and future-readiness.

DepEd’s Senior High School National Task Force (NTF) has also released recommendations, including
stronger partnerships with technical education agencies like TESDA and an enhanced work immersion
program.
While pilot implementation begins this June, Angara noted that the future of the SHS program
ultimately depends on lawmakers.

“Ang desisyon kung ipagpapatuloy ang SHS o hindi ay Kongreso lamang po ang makakapagsabi at
makakapagpasya (The decision on whether to continue Senior High School or not rests solely with
Congress),” he added.

Common questions

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Previous implementations of the SHS program encountered challenges such as curriculum overload, with students facing up to 31 subjects, resource gaps including inadequate infrastructure and specialized teachers, weak industry linkages, and poor alignment with labor market demands. These issues prompted the current reforms to create a more streamlined, flexible, and relevant education system .

The revised Senior High School curriculum in the Philippines aims to better prepare students for higher education, employment, entrepreneurship, and technical careers. It addresses previously identified issues such as curriculum overload and lack of flexibility by reducing the number of core subjects from 15 to 5 interdisciplinary ones, expanding electives, and increasing work immersion hours. This revision is intended to equip students with practical skills and foster 21st-century competencies like critical thinking and digital literacy .

By reducing the number of core subjects from 15 to 5 interdisciplinary ones, the revised curriculum seeks to decrease curriculum overload and allow for a more focused and in-depth understanding of essential knowledge areas. This change is expected to provide students with more time to pursue expanded elective options, thereby tailoring their education to their interests and career goals, and better developing their critical thinking and practical skills .

The revised SHS program incorporates changes such as the introduction of 5 interdisciplinary core subjects, group electives into clusters, and the increased work immersion hours. These changes are aimed at fostering 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and digital literacy. The updated curriculum and extended work immersion provide students with learning experiences that encourage reflective and globally-aligned teaching practices .

The revised curriculum addresses the weak linkage between education and industry demands by expanding work immersion hours and forming stronger partnerships with technical education agencies like TESDA. The extended work immersion, increased from 80-320 hours to 320-640 hours, aims to provide students with more real-world experience and career readiness, aligning education with labor market demands .

The revised SHS curriculum intends to make education more relevant and flexible by offering expanded clusters of elective subjects, which allow students to tailor their education to their personal interests and career ambitions. This flexibility aims to alleviate the rigidity of the previous curriculum and involve students in more relevant and engaging learning experiences. This approach is supported by the introduction of the 'doorway option,' granting students access to subjects across different tracks .

Congress plays a crucial role in the future of the SHS program in the Philippines, as it holds the authority to decide whether the program will continue. Legislative support and funding decisions made by Congress will ultimately influence the program's sustainability and impact on the nation's education system .

The curriculum revisions are accompanied by recommendations from DepEd’s Senior High School National Task Force (NTF), including strengthening partnerships with technical education agencies like TESDA and enhancing work immersion programs. There is also a proposal for a standardized exit exam for ALS learners. These changes aim to ensure a smoother integration of the revised curriculum, aligning educational outcomes with national and global standards, and fostering a stronger connection with industry demands .

The pilot implementation of the revised SHS curriculum aims to improve education quality by introducing a more streamlined and flexible curriculum that reduces subject overload and emphasizes practical skills. With the inclusion of interdisciplinary core subjects and expanded elective options, students can tailor their education to match their career interests. The increased work immersion hours are designed to enhance real-world employability skills. Monitoring and feedback from various stakeholders will further inform adjustments and improvements .

The reduction in core subjects aligns with global best practices by emphasizing depth over breadth in education. This approach allows for a more focused curriculum that integrates critical subjects into interdisciplinary courses, reflecting trends in advanced education systems that prioritize developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This alignment helps foster adaptable learners and prepares students for future challenges in a rapidly evolving global landscape .

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