As 2025 ends, Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted reforms laid by the Department of Education (DepEd) to prepare graduates for employment and sustain improvements in basic education heading into 2026.
In a year-end wrap-up, Angara said efforts focused on better school environments, tighter curriculum-assessment alignment, and stronger senior high school pathways under the Five-Point Reform Agenda.
“Kasama sa paalala sa atin ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang pagkakaroon ng education system na tunay na makatutulong sa mga kabataang Pilipino, isang sistemang maghahanda sa kanila sa susunod na yugto ng kanilang buhay—ang pagpasok sa mundo ng trabaho,” he said.
A centerpiece reform was the Strengthened Senior High School Program, streamlining the curriculum into Academic and Technical-Professional tracks.
For the latter, the Work Immersion Program expanded from 80 hours to 320–640 hours, offering deeper workplace exposure.
DepEd also pledged to continue free National Certification assessments in partnership with TESDA, which supported over 170,000 learners in 2025.
Moving forward, Angara said the department will prioritize full implementation of the Philippine Qualifications Framework and Skills Framework to ensure smoother school-to-work transitions.