DepEd unveils SY 2026-2027 reforms benefiting 26M students

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Sunday announced the implementation of reforms and support measures for school year (SY) 2026–2027, set to benefit more than 26 million students, 45,000 public schools, and 900,000 teachers nationwide.

Among the initiatives are the Three-Term School Calendar, Learning Continuity in Emergencies, revised Lesson Planning and Learning Design, an updated Assessment and Grading Policy, and the nationwide rollout of the Strengthened Senior High School Curriculum.

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Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the reforms are intended to promote better learning outcomes and provide stronger support for teachers.

“We will better ensure that children learn effectively and that our teachers receive stronger support. We implemented these reforms to make the system clearer, teaching more effective, and more responsive to the needs of students,” he said in Filipino.

Angara explained that the Three-Term School Calendar aims to provide longer and more coherent learning periods, better pacing of lessons, and dedicated time for consolidation, remediation, and enrichment activities.

The Learning Continuity in Emergencies policy, meanwhile, provides schools with clear protocols for sustaining learning during disruptions such as typhoons, floods, extreme heat, earthquakes, and other emergencies.

To support teachers, Angara said the department has simplified lesson-planning requirements through the ILAW Framework (Intentions, Learning Experience, Assessing Learning, and Ways Forward), which streamlines documentation, prohibits the use of additional templates beyond prescribed standards, and allows the responsible use of artificial intelligence as a support tool.

DepEd has likewise revised its assessment and grading guidelines to place greater emphasis on learner progress, meaningful feedback, and instructional support.

The updated policy strengthens formative assessment practices, introduces phased descriptive grading in the early grades, and promotes the use of assessment results to guide remediation and enrichment interventions.

The Strengthened Senior High School Curriculum, meanwhile, will be implemented nationwide beginning this school year, offering more flexible learning pathways, foundational competencies, and elective options, while improving graduates’ preparation for higher education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

Public school teachers are also set to receive a P10,000 teaching allowance in accordance with the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, or Republic Act No. 11997.

Angara assured the public that DepEd has already conducted nationwide orientations for field offices, school leaders, and teachers to ensure the smooth implementation of the new policies. /mcm