Close to 50 schools in Central Visayas to be pilot areas for strengthened Senior High School program

CEBU, Philippines — Several schools in Cebu and other areas in Central Visayas are now being identified as pilot areas for the strengthened Senior High School (SHS) program for the School Year 2025-2026.

Based on an initial list from the Department of Education (DepEd), close to 60 schools in the region will participate in the pilot implementation.

Among all school divisions in Cebu, Toledo City has the most pilot schools, including Awihao National High School, Bato National High School, Sunga National High School, Cantabaco National High School, Luray II National High School, Don Andres Soriano National High School, General Climaco National High School, and Toledo National Vocational High School.

Meanwhile, Cebu City has four pilot schools: Abellana National School, Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Memorial National High School, Mabolo National High School, and Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School.

Mandaue City has one, the Mandaue Comprehensive National High School, while Talisay City will see participation from Sisters of Mary Girlstown and Carcar City also with one via Ocana National High School as a pilot school.

Schools under the Cebu provincial division include Sisters of Mary Boystown, Looc Norte National High School, Nangka National High School, St. John Bosco-Cotcot National High School, Bartolome Pañares Memorial National High School, and Manuela Pañares Memorial National High School.

In Danao City, Colegio de San Antonio de Padua, Mariano Espera Jr. National High School, and Ramon M. Durano Sr. Foundation will be part of the program while Naga City will have two schools involved: Naga National High School-Senior High School and Placido L. Señor National High School.

Beyond Cebu, some pilot schools have also been identified in Negros Oriental division as well as Tanjay, Guihulngan, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Tagbilaran, and Bohol.

DepEd has announced that a total of 841 schools across the country have been selected as pilot schools for the enhanced SHS program. Of these, 580 (68.97%) are public schools, while 261 (31.03%) are private institutions.

Schools were nominated by DepEd’s Regional Offices based on their readiness, including teaching staff complement, learning resources, and stakeholder engagement.

To prepare educators for the transition, the National Educators Academy of the Philippines has conducted training sessions for core subjects, with the first batch of schools already completing their program and the second batch finishing on June 1. Separate training sessions are planned for Technical Professional (TechPro) subjects.

The strengthened SHS program introduces streamlined core subjects.

Previously, students took 15 subjects per semester while under the enhanced curriculum, core subjects will be streamlined to five per year, focusing on the most essential topics.

All subjects outside the core will now be classified as “electives”.

The program will now offer only two tracks --Academic and TechPro. Arts and Design and Sports electives will be categorized under the Academic track. — (FREEMAN)