The K-12 program in the Philippines is undergoing a pivotal transition period, as government leaders advocate for reforms instead of elimination. Central to the updates is the MATATAG curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 10, plus a forthcoming overhaul of Senior High School (SHS).
The Department of Education (DepEd) states that the goal is to bolster, not eliminate, K-12. During a recent briefing, Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced a significant curriculum evaluation, conceding that the extra two years have not reliably yielded “skilled and job-ready graduates.”
Parents and students feel a blend of hope and anxiety—hope for overdue improvements at last, and anxiety about further disruptions in already overcrowded classrooms hit by learning setbacks.
Key points at a glance:
- K-12 remains, but the curriculum is undergoing revision.
- The new MATATAG K-10 curriculum is rolling out across the country.
- SHS (Grades 11–12) faces pilot reforms in numerous schools.
- Claims of dropping grade levels (Kinder, Grade 11) are untrue, as verified by media and DepEd fact-checks.
The MATATAG Framework: Streamlining Education Under Pressure
The most noticeable shift in schools is the implementation of the MATATAG K-10 curriculum, which DepEd claims will reduce overload by trimming competencies by roughly 70% and prioritizing five key areas: language, reading and literacy, mathematics, “makabansa,” and good manners and right conduct.
In pilot sites spanning seven regions, educators report intense training workshops and late evenings updating lesson plans. DepEd notes that students and teachers are “receptive,” although numerous schools continue adjusting timetables to fit the revised subject durations.
On the ground, the vibe is wary yet vibrant:
- At certain pilot schools, parents crowded hallways on the first day, peering into rooms to see the new MATATAG approach.
- Educators note that with reduced content to cover hastily, lessons feel “less frantic,” freeing up space for reading and dialogue.
- Students mainly perceive “fewer subjects” and “more focus on fundamentals,” per feedback from DepEd regional offices.
The schedule is straightforward:
- SY 2024–2025 – MATATAG for Kinder, Grades 1, 4, 7
- SY 2025–2026 – Grades 2, 5, 8
- SY 2026–2027 – Grades 3, 6, 9
- SY 2027–2028 – Grade 10
By 2028, the updated K-10 curriculum will be fully implemented nationwide.
For SHS, Angara has admitted that K-12 rollout over the last decade was “not good,” burdened by excessive subjects and limited options for students. DepEd is now testing a new SHS curriculum in about 800 schools, designed for sharper routes to employment or higher education.
Still, amid heated online arguments and viral claims that “K-12 ends by June 2025,” verifications from AFP and statements by DepEd plus the Manila Bulletin affirm: no legislation exists to cut basic education or remove Kinder and SHS.
Strategic Outlook: Balancing Public Frustration and Academic Hope
In public spaces and social media threads, sentiments about K-12 run high. Numerous parents remain frustrated that the added two years raise expenses without assured job prospects for grads. Meanwhile, certain teachers and education supporters are cautiously optimistic that MATATAG’s emphasis on core competencies marks progress.
As DepEd reinforces K-12, it pledges:
- Additional textbooks and resources to back the enhanced SHS next school year.
- Increased teacher recruitment and advancements to alleviate overcrowding and boost morale.
- AI-supported staffing forecasts and recovery initiatives to tackle pandemic-related learning deficits.
For today’s Filipino students—from Kinder children practicing initial letters via MATATAG to Grade 12ers pondering college or careers—the K-12 framework endures. Evolving are the methods and content of instruction.
True success lies not in documents, but in future school terms: if pupils improve in reading, math, and acquire practical life and job skills.