Trisha Anne Segumban

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to reduce the number of core subjects in Senior High School (SHS) from 17 to around five or six starting 2025, while holding a series of consultations from January 24 to February 24, 2025, led by Regional Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD) Chiefs. 

Photo Courtesy of SunStar Philippines.

Consultations held on January 8, 10, and 15 gathered 31 private schools, technical vocational institutions (TVIs), 14 companies, seven government agencies, and representatives from DepEd offices to gather feedback for aligning the SHS curriculum with industry needs, enhancing employability and supporting students’ specialized interests. 

Refinement addresses concerns that the current curriculum does not fully equip SHS graduates with necessary skills for employment or further education. 

DepEd’s Curriculum and Teaching (CT) Strand has conducted consultations with Curriculum and Human Resource officials and field personnel from 16 Regional and 128 Schools Division Offices. 

The new curriculum aims to improve students’ employability by allowing them to focus on specialized interests and skills. 

It allows students to specialize in fields such as business, arts, technology, or arts, equipping them with practical skills and experience for both immediate employment and further education opportunities. 

DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said the new curriculum would help students identify their passions. 

“Para makita ng mga students ‘yung interest nila… na makaka-specialize yung mga bata sa gusto nila,” Angara stated During the SHS curriculum consultations held on January 8. 

As part of the changes, DepEd is working closely with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and TESDA to align college and technical education curriculums. 

Schools will have the flexibility to add electives based on their capacity and student needs, allowing them to offer specialized courses that align with local industries or student interests for a more tailored and relevant learning experience. 

“Ibibigay natin ‘yung basic curriculum, tapos bahala na yung mga schools kung may gusto silang idagdag o i-offer na mga electives, especially sa mga private sectors,” he added. 

The department will phase in the implementation to address challenges raised by schools. 

“Although nakikiusap yung ibang eskwelahan na napakahirap daw, so i-phase natin yung implementation,” Angara said.

He urged the companies and the government to review hiring qualifications for positions not requiring a four-year degree. 

“There are a lot of salary grades in the civil service na hindi naman nangangailangan ng four-year course,” Angara noted.

Schools reportedly welcomed the proposal, with Angara affirming the validity of DepEd’s findings. 

The implementation, initially planned for 2026, was moved earlier to 2025. 

“Actually, ang plano dyan, 2026 pa implement yan pero tinatarget namin ngayong 2025,” Angara stated.

These consultations, running through February 24, are aimed at gathering further insights to ensure the SHS curriculum evolves with industry needs. 

Angara assured that these consultations would be an ongoing collaboration to refine education policies and curriculum. 

“Just as I promised, our DepEd conversations with TESDA, with industry, with private institutions will be a continuing progress, Angara said

“We need to evolve along with the industries that will continue to change,” he added. 

The previous SHS curriculum, implemented in 2016, required students to take 17 core subjects, limiting their ability to specialize, whereas the new curriculum, set for 2025, reduces the number of core subjects to five or six, allowing more tailored electives to prepare students for industry demands.