Cavite School of St. Mark Poised to Pioneer DepEd's Strengthened Senior High Curriculum in Bacoor

BACOOR, CAVITE – Cavite School of St. Mark (CSSM), a long-standing educational institution in Bacoor, is reportedly positioned at the forefront of a major national education reform. Based on the premise guiding this report, CSSM has been selected as the sole private school in the city to pilot the Department of Education's (DepEd) new "Strengthened Senior High School Program," set to launch for Grade 11 students in School Year 2025-2026. This initiative aims to address key challenges in the current K-12 system and better prepare graduates for the future.

The move comes as DepEd undertakes significant revisions under its MATATAG Agenda, responding to feedback on the original K-12 program implemented under Republic Act No. 10533. While K-12 aimed to align Philippine education with global standards 8, concerns about curriculum congestion and the job readiness of Senior High School (SHS) graduates prompted the review. The Strengthened SHS Program is DepEd's answer, focusing squarely on enhancing employability and streamlining learning.

CSSM's assumed selection as a pilot school places it in a unique position. Pilot schools are chosen for their readiness and capacity, serving as crucial testing grounds before nationwide rollouts. CSSM, recognized for academic performance and offering TESDA-accredited vocational programs like Cookery and Caregiving, appears well-suited for this role. Its participation would mean CSSM students are among the first in the country to experience the revamped curriculum, while the school itself contributes valuable feedback to DepEd's national reform efforts.

What Changes Under the Strengthened SHS Program?

The new curriculum introduces significant structural shifts:

1. Fewer Tracks, More Focus: The previous four SHS tracks (Academic, TVL, Sports, Arts & Design) are condensed into two: Academic and Technical Professional (TechPro).Arts and Sports will now be offered as electives within the Academic track.

2. Streamlined Core Subjects: Instead of 15 core subjects spread across semesters, students will take only five core subjects throughout Grade 11: Effective Communication, Life Skills, General Mathematics, General Science, and Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino.This allows for more instructional time and deeper mastery of fundamentals.

3. Flexible Electives: Rigid strands like STEM, ABM, and HUMSS are replaced by a system where students choose electives from clusters within their track, allowing for more personalized learning pathways.

4. Boosted Work Immersion: Addressing job readiness directly, the required work immersion hours are dramatically increased from the standard 80 to between 320 and 640 hours, complemented by a new subject on Work Ethics and Readiness.

   
   

The 'Markian Advantage'

For students at CSSM, participation in the pilot program could translate into several key benefits:

• Deeper Foundational Skills: More time dedicated to fewer core subjects allows for stronger grounding in essential competencies.

• Personalized Learning: Greater flexibility in choosing electives enables students to tailor their education to specific interests and career goals.

• Enhanced Career Prospects: The extensive work immersion, combined with TechPro electives and CSSM's existing TESDA links promises significantly improved real-world experience and job readiness.

• Focus on Life Skills: The dedicated "Life Skills" core subject ensures students develop practical competencies for personal well-being and navigating modern challenges.

  
  

Leading the Way

While implementing a new curriculum presents challenges, including teacher training and resource needs, CSSM's established programs and educational philosophy emphasizing practical application position it well to navigate the transition.

As DepEd gathers feedback from pilot schools like CSSM to refine the program before a wider rollout, the institution is not just adopting change but actively shaping the future of Philippine secondary education. For Bacoor and the wider Cavite community, CSSM's pioneering role highlights a commitment to providing its students with a forward-looking education designed for the demands of the 21st century.