The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines is planning to restore the one-hour duration for school subjects across the country. This move comes after concerns were raised by teachers about their increased workload under the new Matatag curriculum, which had shortened class times to 45 minutes.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara announced the plan during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Monday. He explained that the decision was made after DepEd received feedback from teachers and schools struggling to adapt to the shorter class periods.
“We are preparing a department order to reintroduce six one-hour subjects,” said Secretary Angara. “While the 45-minute lessons were designed to maximize learning time for students, we’ve seen that some teachers and schools are facing difficulties.”
The Matatag curriculum was introduced in August 2023 by Vice-President and former Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio. It aimed to streamline education by emphasizing reading, literacy, and numeracy during the first three years of schooling. However, some educators have found the shortened class times challenging.
Party-list Representative France L. Castro voiced her concerns during the hearing, describing the curriculum as “problematic.” She noted that high school teachers often have seven to eight teaching loads, making it difficult to cover the necessary material in just 45 minutes per class.
“Going back to one-hour classes is necessary,” said Rep. Castro in Filipino. “Our teachers need more time to deliver quality education.”
An education expert from the University of the Philippines, Ferdinand Pol L. Martin, also supported the return to one-hour classes. He pointed out that 45 minutes is often too short, especially considering the time spent on routines and ceremonies before teaching can begin.
“Sometimes, teachers end up with just 30 minutes of actual teaching time,” said Martin. “One hour allows for a more thorough and less rushed lesson.”
In addition to the changes in class duration, DepEd is also focusing on preparing for the 2025 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Secretary Angara highlighted the importance of strengthening science education and improving computer literacy as part of the country’s efforts to perform better in the upcoming assessment.
The 2022 PISA results revealed that Filipino students ranked among the lowest in math, reading, and science globally. The Philippines placed 77th out of 81 countries, scoring below the global average in all categories.
To address these challenges, DepEd is planning to digitize its science program and use online learning platforms like Khan Academy to support 1.6 million 15-year-old public school students. The Education department will hold intensive learning sessions from October to December, with continued support until the PISA exam in March 2025.
“The President is particularly concerned about the next PISA exam,” said Secretary Angara. “We are doing everything we can to ensure better results for our students.”
As DepEd moves forward with these initiatives, the return to one-hour classes is seen as a positive step toward improving the quality of education in the Philippines.
