FACT CHECK: DepEd still offers Kindergarten, Grade 11

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The Department of Education refutes the claim that the K to 12 program has been removed from the country’s basic education curriculum

Claim: The Department of Education (DepEd) will stop offering Kindergarten and Grade 11 for the upcoming school year 2025-2026. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: On May 13, Facebook user Denden P. Tumbaga posted a supposed announcement from the DepEd stating that it would no longer offer Grade 11 and Kindergarten for the upcoming school opening in June. 

The social media graphic features the logos of various education agencies in the country, including the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. 

The Facebook user captioned it, “take time to read mga parents. Sa mga may anak na katatapos lang ng grade 10. Stop na po ang grade 11 and K to 12. At wala na din po kinder.”

(Please take time to read, parents. For those whose children just finished Grade 10 — Grade 11 and the K to 12 program has been stopped. Kindergarten is also no longer offered.)

As of Thursday, May 15, the post has garnered over 7,300 shares and has 584 reactions. 

The facts: In a statement on Wednesday, May 14, the DepEd debunked the claim, saying that it is “fake news.”

“Fake news ang kumakalat na post sa social media tungkol sa pagtanggal ng K to 12 program sa darating na SY 2025-2026. Pinaaalalahanan ng DepEd ang publiko na mag-ingat at maging mapanuri laban sa misinformation,” the DepEd said. 

(The post circulating on social media about the removal of the K to 12 program for the upcoming SY 2025–2026 is fake news. The Department of Education reminds the public to be cautious and critical in guarding against misinformation.)

Kindergarten and Grade 11 are part of the K to 12 program of the country’s basic education. While the DepEd will be rolling out changes in the said curriculum this school year, the K to 12 program will not be abolished. 

The K to 12 program, implemented in 2013, added two years to basic education — Grades 11 and 12, also known as senior high school.

In previous interviews, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said that core subjects in the K to 12 program will be reduced to just “5 to 7” from 15 for each grade level. 

Rappler had previously fact-checked a similar claim in April, stating that the K to 12 program has been abolished. – Bonz Magsambol/Rappler.com

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