Senator Bam Aquino welcomed the enactment of a new law granting the Department of Education (DepEd) greater flexibility in selecting instructional methods for the K to 12 curriculum, calling it a crucial stride in tackling the nation’s ongoing learning recovery challenges.
Republic Act No. 12322, which Aquino principally sponsored and co-authored as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, officially lapsed into law on August 2.
The legislation amends Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10533 (the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013) by removing the requirement that mandated schools to use the spiral progression approach. Under the revised framework, DepEd can now select and implement whichever teaching methodology it deems most effective, subject to regular review.
The measure marks Aquino’s second education bill enacted into law during the 20th Congress, following Republic Act No. 12321 (the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas Schools Act).
“Sa batas na ito, aalisin na ang spiral progression para mabigyan ang DepEd ng kalayaang piliin ang pinakamabisang paraan ng pagtuturo para sa ating mga estudyante,” Aquino said.
“Ito’y isang mahalagang hakbang tungo sa pagresolba ng education crisis at makatutulong para mapataas ang proficiency at literacy sa ating mga paaralan,” he added.
Aquino emphasized that removing the rigid mandate ensures students achieve genuine concept mastery before advancing to higher grade levels.
In his sponsorship speech, Aquino said during legislative consultations, educators reported that forced adherence to spiral progression hindered effective classroom instruction.
The Year One Report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education also found that the required use of the approach created practical challenges for teachers in delivering the curriculum as intended.
The report said these difficulties affected how students developed knowledge and skills across grade levels.
It also found that the framework required teachers to handle multiple disciplines instead of specializing in their areas of expertise, particularly in Science and Mathematics, resulting in congested lessons and weaker mastery of foundational concepts.