What is K to 12 program?

The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education,
four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School [SHS]) to provide sufficient time for
mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-
level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

STRENGTHENING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (UNIVERSAL

KINDERGARTEN)
Every Filipino child now has access to early childhood education through Universal Kindergarten. At 5 years
old, children start schooling and are given the means to slowly adjust to formal education.

Research shows that children who underwent Kindergarten have better completion rates than those who did not.
Children who complete a standards-based Kindergarten program are better prepared, for primary education.

Education for children in the early years lays the foundation for lifelong learning and for the total development
of a child. The early years of a human being, from 0 to 6 years, are the most critical period when the brain
grows to at least 60-70 percent of adult size..[Ref: K to 12 Toolkit]

In Kindergarten, students learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors through games, songs, and dances, in
their Mother Tongue.

MAKING THE CURRICULUM RELEVANT TO LEARNERS

(CONTEXTUALIZATION AND ENHANCEMENT)
Examples, activities, songs, poems, stories, and illustrations are based on local culture, history, and reality. This
makes the lessons relevant to the learners and easy to understand.

Students acquire in-depth knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes through continuity and consistency across all
levels and subjects.

Discussions on issues such as Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation, and Information &
Communication Technology (ICT) are included in the enhanced curriculum.

BUILDING PROFICIENCY THROUGH LANGUAGE (MOTHER

TONGUE-BASED MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION)
Students are able to learn best through their first language, their Mother Tongue (MT). Twelve (12) MT
languages have been introduced for SY 2012-2013: Bahasa Sug, Bikol, Cebuano, Chabacano, Hiligaynon,
Iloko, Kapampangan, Maguindanaoan, Meranao, Pangasinense, Tagalog, and Waray. Other local languages will
be added in succeeding school years.

Aside from the Mother Tongue, English and Filipino are taught as subjects starting Grade 1, with a focus on oral
fluency. From Grades 4 to 6, English and Filipino are gradually introduced as languages of instruction. Both
will become primary languages of instruction in Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS).

After Grade 1, every student can read in his or her Mother Tongue. Learning in Mother Tongue also serves as
the foundation for students to learn Filipino and English easily.

ENSURING INTEGRATED AND SEAMLESS LEARNING (SPIRAL

PROGRESSION)
Subjects are taught from the simplest concepts to more complicated concepts through grade levels in spiral
progression. As early as elementary, students gain knowledge in areas such as Biology, Geometry, Earth
Science, Chemistry, and Algebra. This ensures a mastery of knowledge and skills after each level.

For example, currently in High School, Biology is taught in 2nd Year, Chemistry in 3rd Year, and Physics in 4th
Year. In K to 12, these subjects are connected and integrated from Grades 7 to 10. This same method is used in
other Learning Areas like Math.
GEARING UP FOR THE FUTURE (SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL)
Senior High School is two years of specialized upper secondary education; students may choose a specialization
based on aptitude, interests, and school capacity. The choice of career track will define the content of the
subjects a student will take in Grades 11 and 12. SHS subjects fall under either the Core Curriculum or specific
Tracks.

CORE CURRICULUM
There are seven Learning Areas under the Core Curriculum. These are Languages, Literature, Communication,
Mathematics, Philosophy, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. Current content from some General Education
subjects are embedded in the SHS curriculum.

TRACKS
Each student in Senior High School can choose among three tracks: Academic; Technical-Vocational-
Livelihood; and Sports and Arts. The Academic track includes three strands: Business, Accountancy,
Management (BAM); Humanities, Education, Social Sciences (HESS); and Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics (STEM).

Students undergo immersion, which may include earn-while-you-learn opportunities, to provide them relevant
exposure and actual experience in their chosen track.

TVET (TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING) NATIONAL CERTIFICATE

After finishing Grade 10, a student can obtain Certificates of Competency (COC) or a National Certificate
Level I (NC I). After finishing a Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track in Grade 12, a student may obtain a
National Certificate Level II (NC II), provided he/she passes the competency-based assessment of the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

NC I and NC II improves employability of graduates in fields like Agriculture, Electronics, and Trade.

MODELING BEST PRACTICES FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

In SY 2012-2013, there are 33 public high schools, public technical-vocational high schools, and higher
education institutions (HEIs) that have implemented Grade 11. This is a Research and Design (R&D) program
to simulate different aspects of Senior High School in preparation for full nationwide implementation in SY
2016-2017. Modeling programs offered by these schools are based on students interests, community needs, and
their respective capacities.

NURTURING THE HOLISTICALLY DEVELOPED FILIPINO (COLLEGE AND LIVELIHOOD READINESS,

21ST CENTURY SKILLS)
After going through Kindergarten, the enhanced Elementary and Junior High curriculum, and a specialized
Senior High program, every K to 12 graduate will be ready to go into different paths may it be further
education, employment, or entrepreneurship.
Every graduate will be equipped with:

1. Information, media and technology skills,

2. Learning and innovation skills,
3. Effective communication skills, and
4. Life and career skills.

Curriculum Guide
ELEMENTARY
KINDERGARTEN

The Kindergarten Curriculum Framework (KCF) draws from the goals of the K to 12 Philippine Basic
Education Curriculum Framework and adopts the general principles of the National Early Learning Framework
(NELF). Kindergarten learners need to have a smooth transition to the content-based curriculum of Grades 1 to
12.

GRADES 1-10

Students in Grades 1 to 10 will experience an enhanced, context-based, and spiral progression learning
curriculum with the following subjects:

SUBJECTS
Mother Tongue
Filipino
English
Mathematics
Science
Araling Panlipunan
Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (EsP)
Music
Arts
Physical Education
Health
Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP)
Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE)

SENIOR HIGH (GRADES 11-12)

Senior High School is two years of specialized upper secondary education; students may choose a specialization
based on aptitude, interests, and school capacity. The choice of career track will define the content of the
subjects a student will take in Grades 11 and 12. Each student in Senior High School can choose among three
tracks: Academic; Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; and Sports and Arts. The Academic track includes three
strands: Business, Accountancy, Management (BAM); Humanities, Education, Social Sciences (HESS); and
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM).
CORE CURRICULUM SUBJECTS
There are seven Learning Areas under the Core Curriculum: Languages, Literature,
Communication, Mathematics, Philosophy, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

Oral comunication
Reading and writing
Komunikasyon at pananaliksik sa wika at kulturang Filipino
21st century literature from the Philippines and the world
Contemporary Philippine arts from the regions
Media and information literacy
General mathematics
Statistics and probability
Earth and life science
Physical science
Introduction to philosophy of the human person/Pambungad sa pilosopiya ng tao
Physical education and health
Personal development/pansariling kaunlaran
Earth science (instead of Earth and life science for those in the STEM strand)
Disaster readiness and risk reduction (taken instead of Physical science for those in the
STEM strand)
APPLIED TRACK SUBJECTS
English for academic and professional purposes
Practical research 1
Practical research 2
Filipino sa piling larangan
o Akademik
o Isports
o Sining
o Tech-voc
Empowerment technologies (for the strand)
Entrepreneurship
Inquiries, investigatories, and immersion
SPECIALIZED SUBJECTS
Accountancy, business, and and management strand
Humanities and social sciences strand
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics strand
General academic strand
Implementation and Transition management

IMPLEMENTATION
Program implementation in public schools is being done in phases starting SY 20122013. Grade 1 entrants in
SY 20122013 are the first batch to fully undergo the program, and current 1st year Junior High School students
(or Grade 7) are the first to undergo the enhanced secondary education program. To facilitate the transition from
the existing 10-year basic education to 12 years, DepEd is also implementing the SHS and SHS Modeling.

TRANSITION FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Private schools craft their transition plans based on: (1) current/previous entry ages for
Grade 1 and final year of Kinder, (2) duration of program , and most importantly, (3)
content of curriculum offered.

Achievements and plans

RESOURCE 2010 SHORTAGE 2010 to 2014 Plans for 2015
accomplishment
 66,800 86,478 constructed 41,728 classrooms for
Classrooms classroom as of february Kinder to Grade
1230,000 of which are
for Senior High School
(Grades 11 and 12)

Teacher Items 145,827 39,066 additional teachers

128,105 teachers hired as
items
of December 31, 2014

Water and 80,197 completed 23,414 13,586 programmed for

135, 847 ongoing construction 2015
Sanitation
43,536 procurement as of
May 2014

Textbooks 61.7 m 1:1 student-textbook 69.5 million additional

ratio since December learning materials
2012

Seats 2,573,212 1:1 student-school seat 1,547,531 additional new

ratio since December seats
2012

Frequently ask questions

What is the K to 12 Program?

The K to 12 Program covers 13 years of basic education with the following key stages:
Kindergarten to Grade 3
Grades 4 to 6
Grades 7 to 10 (Junior High School)
Grades 11 and 12 (Senior High School)
Why are we now implementing 13 years of basic education?

The Philippines is the last country in Asia and one of only three countries worldwide with a 10-year pre-
university cycle (Angola and Djibouti are the other two).
A 13-year program is found to be the best period for learning under basic education. It is also the
recognized standard for students and professionals globally.

What has been done to get ready for K to 12? Are we really ready for K to 12?

SY 2011-2012: Universal Kindergarten implementation begins

SY 2012-2013: Enhanced curriculum for Grades 1-7 implemented
2013: K to 12 enacted into Law
2014: Curriculum for Grades 11-12 finished

This 2015, we are getting ready for the implementation of Senior High School (SHS) in SY 2016-2017

We are on the fifth year of the implementation of the K to 12 Program. Our last mile is the Senior High School.
All 221 divisions of the Department of Education (DepEd) have finished planning and have figures on
enrolment a year in advance. These plans were reviewed by a separate team and finalized upon consultation
with other stakeholders.

Classrooms: DepEd has built 66,813 classrooms from 2010 to 2013. There are 33,608 classrooms
completed and undergoing construction in 2014. As of DepEd is planning to establish 5,899 Senior High
Schools nationwide. As of June 22, 2015, DepEd has issued provisional permits to 2,847 private schools
set to offer Senior High School in 2016.
Teachers: From 2010-2014, DepEd has filled 128,105 new teacher items. DepEd is targeting two kinds
of teachers: those who will teach the core subjects, and those who will teach the specialized subjects per
track. DepEd will hire 37,000 teachers for Senior High School for 2016 alone.
Textbooks: Learning materials are being produced for elementary to junior high while textbooks for
Senior High School (which has specialized subjects) are being bid out.
Curriculum: The K to 12 curriculum is standards- and competence-based. It is inclusive and built
around the needs of the learners and the community. The curriculum is done and is available on the
DepEd website. It is the first time in history that the entire curriculum is digitized and made accessible
to the public.

Private SHS: There are 2,847 private schools cleared to offer Senior High School as of June 22, 2015.

How will the current curriculum be affected by K to 12? What subjects will be added and removed?

The current curriculum has been enhanced for K to 12 and now gives more focus to allow mastery of
learning.
For the new Senior High School grades (Grades 11 and 12), core subjects such as Mathematics, Science
and Language will be strengthened. Specializations or tracks in students areas of interest will also be
offered.
Changes to specific subjects are detailed in the K to 12 Curriculum Guides, viewable and downloadable
at bit.ly/kto12curriculum.

How will schools implementing special curricular programs such as science high schools, high schools for
the arts, and technical vocational schools be affected by K to 12?
Schools with special curricular programs will implement enriched curriculums specific to their program (e.g.
science, arts) following the K to 12 standards.

How will multi-grade teaching be affected by K to 12?

Multi-grade teaching will continue and will use the K to 12 Curriculum.

How will specific learning groups such as indigenous people, Muslim learners, and people with special
needs be affected by K to 12?

The K to 12 Curriculum was designed to address diverse learner needs, and may be adapted to fit specific
learner groups.

Under K to 12, will Kindergarten be a pre-requisite for entering Grade 1?

Yes. Republic Act No. 10157, or the Kindergarten Education Act, institutionalizes Kindergarten as part of the
basic education system and is a pre-requisite for admission to Grade 1.

With K to 12, will there be an overlap between the Day Care program of Local Government Units
(LGUs) and DepEd Kindergarten?

No. Day Care Centers of LGUs take care of children aged 4 or below, while the DepEd Kindergarten program is
intended for children who are at least 5 years old by October 31st of the present school year.

With K to 12, should schools prepare permanent records for Kindergarten students?

Yes. While the assessment on readiness skills of students in Kindergarten is not academically driven, a good
measure of the childs ability to cope with formal schooling is needed for future learning interventions.

Who is in charge of Kindergarten teacher compensation?

DepEd is the main agency that employs and pays Kindergarten teachers in public schools. However, there are
LGUs that help in the Kindergarten program and provide honoraria for additional Kindergarten teachers in
public schools.

Which Mother Tongue will be used as the language of instruction in multi-cultural areas?

The principle of MTB-MLE is to use the language that learners are most comfortable and familiar with;
therefore, the common language in the area or lingua franca shall be used as the language of instruction

Will Mother Tongue Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTB-MLE) include other languages in the future?

Languages other than the 19 current mother tongues (Bahasa Sug, Bikol, Cebuano, Chabacano, Hiligaynon,
Iloko, Kapampangan, Maguindanaoan, Meranao, Pangasinense, Tagalog, Waray, Ybanag, Ivatan, Sambal,
Akianon, Kinaray-a, Yakan, and Surigaonon.)

What is Senior High School?

Senior High School (SHS) covers the last two years of the K to 12 program and includes Grades 11 and 12. In
SHS, students will go through a core curriculum and subjects under a track of their choice.
Will SHS mean two more years of High School?

Yes. These two additional years will equip learners with skills that will better prepare them for the future,
whether it be:
Employment
Entrepreneurship
Skills Development (Further Tech-Voc training)
Higher Education (College)

How will students choose their Senior High School specializations?

Students will undergo assessments to determine their strengths and interests. These will include an aptitude test,
a career assessment exam, and an occupational interest inventory for high schools. Career advocacy activities
will also be conducted to help guide students in choosing their specialization or track.

How will student specializations/tracks be distributed across Senior High Schools?

Specializations or tracks to be offered will be distributed according to the resources available in the area, the
needs and interests of most students, and the opportunities and demands of the community.

Will SHS ensure employment for me?

SHS creates the following opportunities:

Standard requirements will be applied to make sure graduates know enough to be hirable.
You will now be able to apply for TESDA Certificates of Competency (COCs) and National Certificates
(NCs) to provide you with better work opportunities.
Partnerships with different companies will be offered for technical and vocational courses.
You can now get work experience while studying; and companies can even hire you after you graduate.

Entrepreneurship courses will now be included. Instead of being employed, you can choose to start your own
business after graduating, or choose to further your education by going to college.

How will SHS affect my college education?

SHS, as part of the K to 12 Basic Curriculum, was developed in line with the curriculum of the
Commission of Higher Education (CHED) the governing body for college and university education in
the Philippines.
This ensures that by the time you graduate from Senior High School, you will have the standard
knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to go to college.

Is SHS really necessary? Must I go to SHS?

Yes, according to the law. Beginning SY 2016-2017, you must go through Grades 11 and 12 to graduate from
High School.

If I choose not to go to SHS, what happens to me?

You will be a grade 10 completer, but not a high school graduate. Elementary graduates are those who finish
grade 6; high school graduates must have finished grade 12.
What will I learn in SHS that the current high school curriculum doesnt include?

Senior High School covers eight learning areas as part of its core curriculum, and adds specific tracks (similar
to college courses) based on four disciplines:
Academic (which includes Business, Science & Engineering, Humanities & Social Science, and a
General Academic strand)
Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (with highly specialized subjects with TESDA qualifications)
Sports
Arts & Design

SHS Students may pick a track based on how he or she will want to proceed after high school graduation. You
can learn more about the tracks and strands (as well as their curriculum) on deped.gov.ph.

Where will Senior High School be implemented? Will my school offer SHS?

Existing public and private schools, including colleges, universities and technical institutions may offer
Senior High School.
There may also be stand-alone Senior High Schools established by DepEd or private organizations.

Can a private school offer Senior High School before SY 2016-2017?

Private schools may offer Grade 11 as early as SY 2015-2016 to interested students. However, Senior High
School before SY 2016-2017 is voluntary for both private schools and students, and there will be no funding
assistance from the government to private Senior High School before SY 2016-2017.

Will SHS modelling schools that implemented the SHS program in SY 2012-13 be allowed to implement
the SHS Program?

SHS modelling schools listed in DepEd Order No. 71, s. 2013 may implement the SHS program, but they must
go through the process of applying a provisional SHS permit, and must meet the standards and requirements for
the SHS Program.

Which private institutions are allowed to offer Senior High School?

All schools and organizations must first apply for a permit from DepEd. Different institutions may also
partner with each other and apply for SHS as a group.
Temporary permits will be issued by DepEd for those who meet the requirements for the Senior High
School Program.
There are 334 private schools with SHS permits beginning in SY 2014 or 2015. Last March 31, 2015,
provisional permits have been issued to 1,122 private schools that will offer Senior High School in 2016.
If you are interested in applying for a Senior High School permit, please
visit: https://bit.ly/AppGuidelinesforSHS.

What other information should applicants remember in applying for a SHS permit?

All applications must only be submitted via email to kto12@deped.gov.ph.

Applications must contain the requirements detailed in DepEd Memo No. 4, series of 2014, viewable
at https://bit.ly/AppGuidelinesforSHS. Only applications with complete documentary requirements will
be processed by the SHS-NTF on a first come-first served basis. Submission of letters of intent only will
not be processed.
 The proposed SHS Curriculum consistent with the final SHS Curriculum issued by DepEd must be
submitted upon application.

Who receives, evaluates and approves the applications for provisional SHS permits? Who issues the
permits?

The SHS-National Task Force (SHS-NTF) will receive applications from interested parties, establish the
process and criteria in evaluating selected applicants, and evaluate the SHS applications of non-DepEd
schools.
Regional Offices will be deputized to conduct on-site validation for all applicants. The on-site validation
will focus on the provision of SHS requirements for the proposed track/strand, and will certify that a
school exhibits the necessary SHS requirements to implement the program.
The DepEd Secretary approves applications for the SHS Program and issues provisional permits to
applicants upon the recommendation of the Undersecretary for Programs and Projects.
The Regional Office releases the provisional permit to the applicant.

Will the additional two years of High School mean additional expenses?

Not necessarily.
Senior High School completes basic education by making sure that the high school graduate is
equipped for work, entrepreneurship, or higher education. This is a step up from the 10-year cycle where
high school graduates still need further education (and expenses) to be ready for the world.
SHS will be offered free in public schools and there will be a voucher program in place for public junior
high school completers as well as ESC beneficiaries of private high schools should they choose to take
SHS in private institutions.
This means that the burden of expenses for the additional two years need not be completely shouldered
by parents.

Where can I find out more about SHS?

You can find out more at www.deped.gov.ph/k-to-12. You can also ask your school administration (public or
private) to contact the DepEd division office to help organize an orientation seminar.