Angara ensures global Filipino learners’ inclusion in DepEd learning system reforms

 

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MAKATI CITY, 17 April 2026—Education Secretary Sonny Angara has moved to integrate Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs) into the nationwide rollout of comprehensive reforms, ensuring that Filipino learners abroad benefit from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) policy initiatives. 

During a virtual session dubbed “Online Kumustahan” last Thursday, DepEd officials discussed with representatives from 35 PSOs key reforms starting School Year 2026-2027. These include the transition to a three-term school calendar, revised guidelines on classroom assessment and grading systems, and the Strengthened Senior High School (SHS) Program. 

“Following the marching orders of President Bongbong Marcos, we are committed to ensuring that our global learners are not left behind as we transform our curriculum to be more responsive and future-ready,” Angara said. 

“Through these orientations, we want to ensure our schools are prepared and supported for the upcoming school year as we implement these vital changes.”

DepEd is conducting nationwide orientations to guide regional and division officials, school heads, and teachers on the broad package of learning system reforms.

The Kumustahan session followed the virtual interaction held last April 7, where DepEd officials assured educators and learners overseas—particularly those in the Middle East—of government support amid ongoing regional conflicts.  

The latest dialogue served as a venue to discuss key policy updates and address operational and academic flexibility concerns of PSOs for over 25,000 learners across 10 countries, mostly in the Middle East. 

DepEd officials explained that the shift to a three-term school calendar aims to maximize instructional time and minimize class disruptions, while streamlining the administrative workload for teachers. 

Further discussions on related reforms detailed the updated guidelines on assessment and grading and the Strengthened SHS curriculum, which refined the program to better prepare graduates for higher learning or immediate employability. 

The discussion emphasized that these reforms are part of a broader effort to raise learning outcomes, alongside other initiatives on flexible learning programs, strengthened education in emergencies, and the simplification of lesson planning templates. 

“Ito po ang DepEd reforms—dugtong-dugtong, magkakaugnay upang higit na mapatibay ang ating sistemang pang-edukasyon,” Assistant Secretary for Learning Systems Strand Jerome Buenviaje said, emphasizing that the reforms represent a system-wide transformation rather than isolated changes.

While the new three-term school calendar is mandatory for the K to 12 curriculum nationwide, Buenviaje noted that DepEd is granting PSOs a transition period and the flexibility to adjust based on the specific context of their host nations.

DepEd officials highlighted that staying aligned with national standards ensures that overseas Filipino learners can seamlessly reintegrate and adjust culturally once they return to schools in the Philippines. 

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