THE DEPARTMENT of Education pushed forward reforms that improved school environments and advanced system-level changes under Secretary Sonny Angara’s leadership – strengthening senior high school tracks, aligning curriculum and assessment more closely, and expanding work-readiness initiatives for learners nationwide.

Alongside governance and infrastructure upgrades, these reforms reinforced the agency’s direction toward producing graduates equipped with practical skills, clearer pathways to employment or higher education, and an education system designed to sustain these outcomes.

“Kasama sa paalala sa atin ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang pagkakaroon ng education system na tunay na makatutulong sa mga kabataang Pilipino, isang sistemang maghahanda sa kanila sa susunod na yugto ng kanilang buhay, ang pagpasok sa mundo ng trabaho (Part of the reminders of President Marcos to the DepEd is to have an education system that can really help Filipino youth, a system that will prepare them in the next stage of their lives, their entry into the world of work),” Angara said in a statement on Wednesday.

With the recent ratification of the General Appropriations Bill by Congress on Dec. 29, he said the DepEd will continue riding this momentum to sustain the delivery of quality education in the coming year.

From learning to employment

DepEd launched the Strengthened Senior High School (SHS) Program to make the latter years of basic education more responsive, relevant, and attuned to the learners’ transition from education to employment.

Part of the reform is the streamlining of the curriculum, which now offers two clear pathways – the Academic track and the Technical-Professional track.

DepEd also expanded the Work Immersion Program from 80 hours to 320 to 640 hours for technical-professional learners, ensuring more meaningful and hands-on workplace experience.

For next year, Angara said the DepEd, in coordination with regional directors and schools division superintendents, is exploring ways to further enhance the current curriculum and roll out the initiative on a broader scale.

In addition, DepEd aims to sustain the provision of free National Certification (NC) assessments in 2026, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

In 2025, the two agencies supported more than 170,000 SHS-Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) learners.

Moving forward, Angara said DepEd will prioritize the effective implementation of the Philippine Qualifications Framework and the Philippine Skills Framework, working closely with education and other relevant government agencies to ensure smoother and more seamless transitions from education to employment for more Filipinos.

Efficiency in the education system

Angara also emphasized the need to enhance the efficiency of the education system, ensuring the smooth implementation of major programs that directly benefit both teachers and learners.

Under the special provisions of next year’s budget, the rollout of classroom programs will become more flexible, allowing local government units and private institutions to partner with the department in delivering resilient and modern school facilities.

Angara further ensured that more private partners – even individual donors – can participate in building classrooms through the newly enhanced Adopt-a-School platform.

These initiatives will be vital in achieving the department’s targets: 24,547 classrooms to be constructed under the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF), 1,700 classrooms to be leased, 11,886 classrooms to be repaired, and 105,000 new classrooms to be delivered under the PSIP initiative.

DepEd will also lean on its significant investments in technology and artificial intelligence, most notably through the launch of the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), which serves as the Department’s hub for evidence-based policies and initiatives.

“Sa ilalim ng Bagong Pilipinas ng ating mahal na Pangulo, mas lalo nating pagtitibayin ang sistema ng edukasyon upang makalikha ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa ating mga Kabataan (Under the New Philippines of our beloved President, we will further strengthen the education system to create more opportunities for our youth),” Angara said. (PNA)