The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially removed the traditional strand system in the new Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to secondary education.
This reform in structure and curriculum aims to provide students with a more flexible and holistic learning experience rather than confining learners to rigid academic tracks.
Breaking away from strands, building student choice
The Department of Education (DepEd) proposes a revamped senior high school (SHS) curriculum, which removes the traditional strand system to give students more control over their learning journey.
DepEd also recognizes that the curriculum is 'overly fragmented,' especially with too many subjects, limited elective options, and inadequate teaching time.
Pilot implementation begins in selected schools next school year, Academic Year 2025-2026, with a full rollout targeted by 2026.
Why is DepEd scrapping the strand system?
Under the new “doorway option,” students can freely choose subjects across 9 clusters based on their preferred career or exit path.
These 9 clusters include (1) Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, (2) Business and Entrepreneurship, (3) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), (4) Sports, Health, and Wellness, (5) Field Experience, (6) Agriculture and Fishery Arts, (7) Information and Communication Technology, (8) Family and Consumer Science, and (9) Industrial Arts and Maritime.
Subjects outside the core will now be called “electives,” replacing the previous “specialized” label. This approach replaces the fixed strands like STEM, HUMSS, ABM, and GAS, emphasizing flexibility and adaptiveness to individual goals.
From the four-track system (Academic, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood, Sports, and Arts & Design), it will be condensed into 2 tracks: Academic Track (includes arts, design, and sports) and Technical Professional (TechPro) Track.
From fixed tracks to student-driven learning
The new curriculum reduces core subjects from 15 to 5, merging key areas like math, science, and communication to avoid overload and promote better understanding.
The 5 core subjects are: (1) Effective Communication/Mabisang Komunikasyon, (2) Life Skills, (3) General Mathematics, (4) General Science, and (5) Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino (History and Philippine Society).
This reorganization responds to long-standing concerns about the inefficiency of the SHS structure.
Electives are grouped into two broad clusters: Academic and TechPro (Technical-Professional), where students can freely select from both clusters, regardless of their previous track or strand.
"Choice of subjects will be based on the students’ preferred exit rather than pre-selected based on their tracks or strands," the consultation packet read.
Public urged to weigh in on curriculum reform
This curriculum revision is part of DepEd’s effort to make education more efficient, flexible, and practical.
Life Skills subjects will be introduced to enhance competencies such as
financial literacy and interpersonal communication.
DepEd urges the public to review the 26-page draft and submit feedback by April 11, saying the process ensures the program equips learners “with the skills they need to thrive in both education and the workforce.”
Major differences
Compared to the old curriculum with 15 different subjects, the new SHS curriculum decongested the number of subjects to only 5. Alongside this is the shift from a 4-track system to introducing only 2 tracks, namely Academic and TechPro.
Before, subjects also have distinctions whether it is ‘applied’ or ‘specialized’ subjects. In the new curriculum, all subjects that are not part of the core will now simply be called ‘electives.’
