A NEW law is giving the Department of Education (DepEd) greater flexibility in implementing the K to 12 basic education curriculum by removing the mandatory requirement to use the spiral progression approach.

Republic Act No. 12322 officially lapsed into law on August 2, 2026, amending Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

The law allows DepEd to determine and implement pedagogical approaches that it considers most effective and appropriate to the needs of Filipino learners.

“Every generation deserves an education that responds to its evolving needs. I believe that Republic Act No. 12322 advances a more responsive, effective, and learner-centered basic education system that provides our learners the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Representative Roman Romulo said.

The measure seeks to address long-standing structural concerns identified by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) during its nationwide consultations with educators.

Under the amended law, DepEd may adopt discipline-based or alternative instructional models designed to promote deeper mastery of concepts. It also requires the agency to conduct a systematic review of the basic education curriculum and its corresponding teaching strategies at least once every five years.

EDCOM 2 said consultations and research showed several challenges arising from the mandatory implementation of spiral progression across subjects.

In Science, for example, students may shift between different disciplines every quarter, which the commission said could lead to fragmented learning and make it more difficult for learners to develop deeper conceptual understanding.

The commission also pointed out the mismatch between teacher preparation, which generally focuses on specialization in specific disciplines, and the multidisciplinary demands of the spiral progression approach.

EDCOM 2 cited the Philippine Science High School system as an example of a discipline-based model that has produced strong student outcomes.

With the enactment of RA 12322, DepEd may now explore curriculum models that better align with teacher specialization, improve lesson sequencing, and strengthen foundational literacy, numeracy, and subject mastery.

EDCOM 2 said it will continue working with DepEd during the implementation of the law to monitor its impact and help ensure that the reform leads to measurable improvements in learning outcomes nationwide.