Grade 13 set? It’s fake news, says DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — A viral social media post purportedly announcing the addition of Grade 13 to Senior High School in the coming school year is fake news, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday.

“WARNING TO THE PUBLIC. Fake news is the Facebook post about the alleged additional Grade 13 in Senior High School for SY 2025-2026,” DepEd said on Facebook.

“DepEd once again reminds the public to be cautious and analytical against misinformation,” it said.

Meanwhile, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the government is spending P4 billion to create 16,000 new teaching positions for the coming school year in a bid to boost manpower in public educational institutions.

In a statement, Pangandaman said she has approved the creation of 16,000 teaching positions in public schools.

This will require P4.19 billion in budget allocation covering the first tranche of the 20,000 teaching positions targeted for 2025.

The fund will come from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) built-in budget under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, specifically earmarked for hiring new school personnel.

Of the targeted new positions, 15,343 will cover Teacher I posts with a salary grade 11 or at least P27,000 monthly.

Another 500 positions are for special education teachers with salary grade 14 or roughly P33,800 monthly. The remaining 157 posts are meant for special science teachers with salary grade 13 or P31,300. — Louise Maureen Simeon