PBBM orders rationalization of SHS curriculum

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the rationalization of the senior high school (SHS) curriculum, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said Tuesday.

In a Palace press briefing, Angara said the plan is to make the subjects in four career tracks optional for students.

Angara noted that Filipino SHS learners are required to take at least 20 core subjects.

England, Australia and the United States only have three to seven subjects, he said.

"Hindi natin sila babawasan ng kukunin nila pero gagawin nating voluntary or elective na lang siya (We will not reduce what they get, but we will make it voluntary or elective)," he added.

Angara said DepEd would ensure that the electives complement the students' chosen career track.

He said the goal is to make the students well-rounded persons and develop their foundational skills, adding that the DepEd would link up with industries to help them get a better chance of acquiring high-quality jobs.

"So, gagawa tayo ng (we will create a) core for all four tracks na common na 'yung kahit anong gawin ng bata (that is common to whatever the child does), he is well-equipped, may reading and writing skills siya, may communications skills siya, may personal development or soft skills siya, may physical education siya (he has reading and writing skills; he has communications skills; he has personal development or soft skills; he has a physical education)," he said.

Currently, there are four career tracks under the SHS curriculum – academic, technical-vocational-livelihood, sports, and arts and design.

On Aug. 1, the DepEd signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Trade and Industry and Thames International School for an e-commerce track for SHS students.

The DepEd also signed a MOA with the Private Sector Advisory Council to augment the government's thrust in solving the jobs and skills mismatch problem by coming up with an "enhanced work immersion" program for SHS learners.

In February, Marcos ordered the reintegration of the technical and vocational education and training in the curriculum of SHS.

Meantime, Angara emphasized the need to review the National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP), considering that students were not assessed when the initiative was launched.

"I think, we need to review [it]," he said, adding that learners' capacities should be assessed before and after holding learning recovery camps.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also pushed for massive reforms in the NLRP.

Karol Mark Yee, Executive Director of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, said the reforms should take a learner-centered approach.

"'Yung request namin sa DepEd is sana 'yung plano natin detalyado depende sa pangangailangan ng iba't ibang bata kasi hindi naman lahat ng bata ay ganoon iyong kailangan (We requested the DepEd to have a detailed based on the needs of different students because they have different needs)," he said.

"'Yung iba kailangan mas focused, mas maraming oras. 'Yung iba [refresher] lang. So sana mayroon tayong delineation in terms of the interventions (Others need more focus and time, while others only need refresher. So we hope there would be a delineation in terms of the interventions)," Yee added. (PNA)