The Department of Education (DepEd) is considering implementing substantial changes to the Philippines’ grading and recognition system. This action comes as part of an ongoing review of the country’s basic education system, according to DepEd officials.
DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas indicated that these possible changes coincide with the upcoming curriculum revision scheduled for the 2024-2025 school year.
“Since we will revise the curriculum effective school year 2024-2025, it comes with a revision or modification of our classroom assessment policies. This will also entail, possibly, a modification of our grading system and awards recognition,” Bringas stated in an interview with Teleradyo on July 12.
While Bringas did not provide specific details about the nature of the potential changes, he affirmed that the department’s focus will remain on promoting equal opportunities for the recognition of individual achievements. The intent is to avoid encouraging excessive competition among learners.
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“It’s important to note that we will still be working for equal opportunities for recognition of personal achievements rather than instituting competition among learners,” he said.
The move signifies a continued departure from the previously competitive academic system. The quarterly top 10 rankings were eliminated when the K-12 program was introduced in 2016.
Under the current system, students receive academic excellence awards based on their average grades. These distinctions are categorized as highest honors (98 to 100), high honors (95-97), and honors (90-94).
This potential overhaul of the grading and recognition system underlines the DepEd’s commitment to fostering an educational environment that celebrates individual academic progress and achievement, rather than a competitive ranking system.
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