THE DEPARTMENT of Education confirmed its collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education to resolve the long-standing issue of subject redundancy between Senior High School and college.

During a Senate hearing, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching Gina Gonong explained that the SHS curriculum aims to equip students with foundational competencies, preparing them for either college or immediate employment through apprenticeships coordinated with TESDA and CHED. The focus is on developing higher-level cognitive skills.

To address these concerns, DepEd announced a pilot implementation of the Strengthened Senior High School Program for the upcoming academic year, with a full rollout expected by School Year 2026-2027.

A total of 727 pilot schools have been identified, including 567 public schools, 160 private schools, and 20 rural schools. However, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian pushed for the inclusion of more rural schools in the pilot.

As part of the new curriculum, DepEd will reduce the current 15 core subjects to five, which will be taught throughout the academic year instead of being limited to a single semester.

Gatchalian questioned whether five core subjects would be sufficient, to which DepEd responded that students will still be required to take elective subjects for a well-rounded education.

DepEd and CHED’s collaborative efforts aim to streamline the country’s education system, ensuring curriculum alignment and avoiding unnecessary repetition that burdens students and prolongs their academic journey.