The Department of Education (DepEd) has started discussions with education officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on key learning system reforms aimed at improving classroom instruction, addressing learning gaps, and preparing schools for the 2026-2027 academic year.
DepEd officials, led by Undersecretary for Learning Systems Carmela Oracion, met with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) in Cotabato City to present the agency’s reform roadmap and discuss how national education policies can be implemented in the region.
The talks covered major policy changes, including the shift to a three-term school calendar, the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, revised assessment and grading policies, updated lesson planning guidelines, and enhancements to the Senior High School curriculum.
MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal and other Bangsamoro education officials joined the discussions, which focused on adapting national reforms to the region’s cultural, social, and community realities.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the orientation sessions are meant to ensure that reforms are clearly understood by teachers, school heads, and learners before they are carried out in classrooms.
“Hindi sapat na mailabas ang polisiya; kailangang malinaw ito sa mga guro, school leaders, at learners na direktang maaapektuhan ng implementasyon,” Angara said.
He said the sessions would help schools understand not only what changes are coming, but also how the reforms can improve teaching, strengthen learner outcomes, and support more responsive implementation in different local settings.
One of the major reforms discussed was the proposed three-term school calendar, which seeks to reorganize the school year into dedicated periods for regular instruction, learner intervention, and teacher professional development.
DepEd said the setup is intended to give schools more time for remediation, particularly for students who continue to struggle with lessons.
The ARAL Program was also presented as a key intervention to help learners improve foundational skills in reading, mathematics, and science, especially after learning losses linked to the pandemic.
Officials also discussed the strengthened Senior High School curriculum, which aims to better connect education with employment by expanding work immersion opportunities and offering electives aligned with local industries.
DepEd said the initiative supports the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to raise the quality of basic education and ensure that reforms are inclusive and properly implemented across all regions.
The agency said it will continue working closely with the MBHTE to align national education objectives with the specific needs and conditions of Bangsamoro schools.