MANILA -- From 17 core subjects in senior high school, the Department of Education says it is looking at implementing the reduction of this number to between five or seven this year. 

In a media forum, Wednesday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara explained that while it is slated for a 2026 implementation, they are targeting to have it done a year earlier. 

"Yung core subject na ire-require natin sa senior high school ay lilimitahan natin sa five to seven subjects; communications, Philippine history, a little bit of math and science, life skills, attitude towards work," he said. 

(The core subjects that we will require in senior high school will be limited between five to seven subjects; communications, Philippine history, a little bit of math and science, life skills, attitude towards work.)

The move was first proposed in 2024 with the main goal of students developing skills they would most likely want to gain a career out of and boost their employability. 

The implementation, according to Angara, will be liberal, giving schools the freedom to offer other subjects students may prefer. 

"Ibibigay lang natin yung basic curriculum and then bahala na yung mga schools ano yung mga gustong idagdag, i-offer na electives especially sa private sector. We will give them a lot of freedom."

(We will give them the basic curriculum and then it's up to the schools whatever subject they want to add, what electives they want to offer, especially in the private sector.)

The education chief adds they are in coordination with other institutions like the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Higher Education on whatever adjustments they find may be necessary as a result of this move.