Revised SHS curriculum gets support from students, parents – Angara

MANILA, Philippines — The strengthened Senior High School (SHS) program has received positive feedback from students and parents during consultations conducted ahead of its pilot implementazz tion in the upcoming school year, according to Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

In a chance interview, Angara explained that the schools selected for the pilot program were chosen based on their readiness in terms of facilities and teaching staff.

“What we have is a pilot (program), what we have is a few hundred schools for the pilot of (strengthened) Senior High School,” Angara said.

“Under the present program, there are 33 subjects for two years. We are the only country in the world with so many subjects so we will lessen the number,” Angara noted.

He added that students will now have the opportunity to choose their preferred subjects, and that schools benefit from a more streamlined curriculum.

“Many are happy with the decongestion as it is easier for schools to plan if there will be fewer subjects. It will mean savings for the schools. The students are also happy that they can choose their subjects,” he noted.

The Department of Education announced that full implementation of the strengthened SHS program will begin in 2026, covering the country’s 12,739 senior high schools.

DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong explained that the 2025 pilot implementation, involving 841 schools (580 public and 261 private), is designed to surface and resolve issues ahead of the nationwide rollout.

Of these, more than 800 schools are in urban areas, while 35 are in rural communities – about 6.6 percent of the country’s SHS institutions.