DepEd's Major Changes To The SHS Curriculum For S.Y. 2025–2026

The Department of Education's (DepEd) plans to reform the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum are starting to take shape, with the proposed changes outlined in a consultation packet released on April 4.

As stated in the consultation packet, DepEd aims to strengthen the SHS program by "streamlining the tracks and subjects, prioritizing student choice, ensuring that student options are stackable and seamless, and making learners more employable."

A pilot implementation of these reforms is expected in School Year 2025–2026.

ALSO READ: ICYMI: Education Pathways Bill Gets House Approval

DepEd Eyes Major SHS Curriculum Reforms 

To keep you up to speed, let's review the major changes DepEd plans to implement next school year:

Reduction of tracks

The current SHS curriculum offers four tracks: Academic, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL), Sports, and Arts & Design. This system is set to be condensed into two tracks: Academic and Technical Professional (TechPro).

While the Academic track will remain, DepEd plans to further broaden its scope by adding electives in arts, design, and sports. Additionally, the department intends to introduce the Technical Professional (TechPro) track, which will replace the current TVL track.

DepEd clarified that schools won't be obligated to offer both tracks and can select the one to implement based on their available resources.

From 15 core subjects to five

DepEd's plan to reduce the current 15 core subjects to just five has been in discussion since January, and now it's on track for implementation.

Below are the five proposed core subjects:

1. Effective Communication/Mabisang Komunikasyon – merges various language and communication subjects
2. Life Skills – includes personal development and physical education
3. General Mathematics – combines math courses into one
4. General Science – merges Earth and Life Science with Physical Science
5. Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino – combines history, culture, and society topics

These five new core subjects will be taught throughout the entire school year in Grade 11, rather than being limited to a single semester. All SHS students will be required to take these subjects.

Now, you may be wondering what will happen to the subjects that are no longer part of the core. These will be streamlined and reclassified as "electives."

Electives are grouped into clusters

Stay with us here. Another term to note is "clusters." Simply put, clusters are groupings of the electives—those subjects that have been removed from the current core. 

These electives are grouped into clusters "to help schools efficiently organize teachers and learning resources."

The nine proposed clusters are:

1. Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
2. Business and Entrepreneurship
3. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
4. Sports, Health, and Wellness
5. Field Experience
6. Agriculture and Fishery Arts
7. Information and Communication
8. Technology Family and Consumer Science
9. Industrial Arts and Maritime

Moreover, DepEd clarified that "clusters are not the same as strands because schools are not required to offer all electives within a cluster, and students can choose electives across multiple clusters."

New time allotment for courses

DepEd is proposing the following changes to the time allotment for courses:

• Core Subjects: 160 hours, offered over one year/two semesters

• Academic Electives: 80 hours, offered in one semester

• Grade 11 TechPro Electives: 320 hours, offered in one year

• Grade 12 TechPro Electives: 320 hours, offered in one semester

• Field Exposure: 160–320 hours, offered in one semester

Doorway Option

DepEd aims to offer more flexibility for students by introducing the "doorway option," which allows them to choose from a wider range of subjects.

Under the current SHS curriculum, students follow a more rigid structure. In addition to core subjects, they can only take applied and specialized subjects based on their chosen track and strand.

For example, a student pursuing a career in accounting would choose the Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) strand. This limits them to a pre-selected set of subjects designed specifically for ABM students, restricting exposure to other fields.

However, in the revised curriculum, the same student can now select subjects from any cluster. As DepEd explained in the Consultation Packet, "the majority of their electives may come from Business and Entrepreneurship, but they may also opt to take subjects from other clusters, such as the Academic Track - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)."

"Choice of subjects will be based on the students' preferred exit rather than pre-selected based on their tracks or strands," DepEd stated.

Implementation 

The pilot implementation of the new curriculum is set for School Year 2025–2026. However, DepEd will decide by School Year 2026–2027 whether to fully roll it out to schools, depending on the results of the pilot.

With these big changes ahead, students, parents, and educators should participate in the department's ongoing consultations.

Click here to learn more about DepEd's 'Matatag curriculum.'