The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines will review its grade transmutation policy to stop mass promotion of students, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on February 3, 2026.

DepEd’s grade transmutation policy changes low raw scores into higher passing grades. For example, a student who scores 60 out of 100 can be given a passing grade of 75. While this policy was meant to help students move forward, it also promotes students who are not ready for the next grade level.

This review follows a report by the Second Congressional Commission for Education (EDCOM II). The commission studied problems in the education system for three years. In its final report, EDCOM II said that many students are being passed to the next grade even if they did not learn well enough.

According to the DepEd data cited by EDCOM II:

• Only about 30.5% of Grade 3 learners read at their proper grade level.
• By Grade 6, this drops to 19.6%.
• Only 0.4% of Grade 12 students are reading at the expected level.

These numbers show that many students are not learning basic skills like reading and math before being promoted. The commission said this is a serious problem because these skills are needed for success in school and life.

Education Secretary Angara said that there is no official policy that forces mass promotion, but some current policies unintentionally cause it. One reason is the way schools convert raw scores into passing grades. Another reason is the pressure on teachers not to fail students. Angara said that many teachers do not fail students because they do not want to hurt their feelings or slow their progress.

DepEd plans to study the grade transmutation system more closely. It wants to make sure that all students are evaluated fairly and consistently across all schools. Angara also noted that international tests and college entrance exams do not use grade transmutation, so DepEd needs to align local assessments with global standards.

At the same time, DepEd does not want students to be left behind. Secretary Angara said that learners who struggle will receive help. The government will use the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Act to provide free tutoring. Through this program, students who have difficulty with classwork can get after‑school tutoring and extra support.

Angara also made it clear that DepEd is not planning a major rewrite of the curriculum. A complete curriculum overhaul, he said, would take too long and might cause more disruption in schools.

Why This Change Matters

Ending mass promotion can help ensure that students truly learn the skills they need. When students are promoted without mastering basic subjects, they may have bigger challenges later. Reviewing the grade transmutation policy can make school performance more meaningful and better prepare students for higher education and work.

At the same time, support programs like ARAL can help struggling learners catch up, so they do not fall further behind. This balanced approach aims to make learning fair and effective for all students.

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