DepEd to Reduce Senior High School Tracks from Four to Two

The Department of Education (DepEd) plans to have major reforms in the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum by reducing the number of tracks from four to two. The initiative aims to streamline the educational system, providing graduates with clearer pathways to higher education or employment.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) recently confirmed DepEd’s plans in a statement following a hearing on the SHS program held on March 13. According to EDCOM 2, the revised SHS curriculum is expected to be implemented in the school year (SY) 2025-2026.

New SHS Track Structure

Under the proposed changes, the current four SHS tracks will be reduced to two:

Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) Track
Academic Track

Currently, SHS offers four tracks:

Academic Track
Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) Track
Arts and Design Track
Sports Track

Each track is further subdivided into strands, which offer specialized curricular options to students.

Rationale Behind the Change

Curriculum and Teaching Assistant Secretary Janir Datukan stated that this simplification is intended to enhance exit opportunities for SHS graduates, ensuring they are better prepared for either higher education or employment. By consolidating the SHS tracks, DepEd aims to address concerns over the employability of SHS graduates who do not pursue tertiary education.

The Academic Track will continue to offer strands geared towards higher education, such as:

Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS)
General Academic (GA)

Meanwhile, the TVL Track will retain its focus on vocational and technical education, offering specialized strands like:

Agri-Fishery Arts
Home Economics (HE)
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Industrial Arts

These strands will align with the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) curriculum taught in Grades 7 to 10.

Reduction in Required Subjects

In addition to the track consolidation, EDCOM 2 revealed that DepEd plans to make a “drastic reduction” in the number of required subjects for SHS students. Currently, SHS students are required to take 31 subjects. The redesigned curriculum will cut this number down to approximately seven to 20 subjects.

This new subject structure will include:

Four core subjects
Up to 16 elective subjects

DepEd is also introducing a “doorway” or “cross-tracking” system, allowing students to explore subjects from other tracks. This approach aims to provide students with more flexibility in choosing their career or academic pathways.