28/02/2026
Strengthened SHS Curriculum: Full Guide
Removal of Strands
Gone are the strands like STEM, ABM, HUMSS, GAS, AFA, etc. Instead, students will choose between just two tracks:
โข Academic Track
โข Technical-Professional (TechPro) Track (formerly TVL, now enhanced)
New Elective System (No More Fixed Strands)
Students will choose elective subjects from themed clusters, not fixed strands:
โข Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities
โข Business and Entrepreneurship
โข STEM
โข Sports, Health, and Wellness
โข Field Experience
โข Agri-Fishery Arts
โข ICT
โข Family and Consumer Science
โข Industrial Arts and Maritime
Students can mix electives across tracks, if allowed by their school.
Core Subjects Reduced to 5
Instead of 15โ17 general subjects, there will only be five core subjects for all students:
1. Effective Communication
2. Life Skills
3. General Mathematics
4. General Science
5. Philippine History and Society
These will be completed during Grade 11.
Applied and Specialized = Now Called Electives
All former applied and specialized subjects are now considered electives. Students choose electives based on:
โข Personal interest
โข Career goals
โข College course plans
Immersion or OJT Still Required
In Grade 12, all students will still go through work immersion or OJT, especially those under the TechPro track.
Who Will Be Affected?
โข Returning SHS students who havenโt completed Grade 12 might be required to restart Grade 11 under the new system.
Donโt Transfer Just to Look for Strands
No school will offer the old strands anymore. Transferring schools will not restore STEM, ABM, HUMSS, etc. All schools will follow the same Strengthened SHS Program.
Why These Changes?
DepEdโs goal is to:
โข Simplify the curriculum
โข Avoid duplication of content
โข Make learning flexible and career-aligned
โข Empower students to choose their learning path
โข Improve preparedness for work or college
Ctto: SIR Alsoufie