Uploaded last June 15, 2026 and updated on June 19, 2026 to reflect current events
Senate President Win Gatchalian has filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 429 seeking an inquiry into the Department of Education’s (DepEd) grade transmutation policy, which may be contributing to the promotion of students to the next grade level despite not fully meeting grade-level learning expectations.
The grade transmutation table for Grades 1 to 12 is provided under DepEd Order No. 8 s. 2015. Under this policy, a learner’s Initial Grade from the weighted scores of various assessment components is converted into a higher Quarterly Grade through transmutation formula. For example, those who get an Initial Grade of 60 get a transmuted grade of 75.
The average of a learner’s Quarterly Grades determines the Final Grade. Learners who obtain a Final Grade of at least 75 are promoted to the next grade level. As a result, students with Initial Grades that fall below the traditional passing mark may still advance because of the higher grade equivalents produced through transmutation.
“The practice could allow students to advance to the next grade without fully mastering key lessons,” Gatchalian said.
“Kung nais nating matuldukan ang krisis sa edukasyon, kailangang tiyakin nating nasusukat natin sa tamang paraan ang kakayahan ng ating mga mag-aaral,” he added.
The DepEd recently released its updated grading system (DepEd Order No. 015 s. 2026), which provides an adjusted transmutation table for Grades 4 to 12, including Grades 2 and 3 that are still implementing the numerical grading system. Under the new policy, an initial grade of 70 to 71.17 will have a transmuted grade of 75 for School Year (SY) 2026-2027. This measure is meant to transition towards a zero-based grading system starting SY 2027-2028, where the reported grade is reported without transmutation.
Grading System na Iniuugnay sa ‘Mass Promotion’ Pinasusuri ni Gatchalian
Naghain si Senate President Win Gatchalian ng isang resolution (Proposed Senate Resolution No. 429) upang repasuhin ang grade transmutation policy ng Department of Education (DepEd), isang polisiyang itinuturing na may maaaring ambag sa pagkakapasa ng mga mag-aaral sa susunod na baitang kahit hindi pa nila taglay ang inaasahang mga kakayahan para sa kanilang grade level.
Nakapaloob sa DepEd Order No. 8 s. 2015 ang grade transmutation table para sa Grade 1 hanggang Grade 12. Sa ilalim ng polisiyang ito, ang Initial Grade ng isang mag-aaral mula sa weighted scores ng iba’t ibang assessment components ay kino-convert sa mas mataas na Quarterly Grade gamit ang isang transmutation formula. Halimbawa, ang mga makakakuha ng Initial Grade na 60 ay magkakaroon ng transmuted grade na 75.
Ang average ng Quarterly Grades ng isang learner ang nagiging batayan ng kanyang Final Grade. Ang mga learner na makakakuha ng Final Grade na hindi bababa sa 75 ay ipinapasa para sa susunod na baitang. Dahil dito, maaari pa ring makapasa sa susunod na baitang ang mga estudyanteng may Initial Grades na mas mababa sa traditional passing mark dahil sa mas mataas na grade equivalents na nililikha ng transmutation.
“Ang ganitong practice ay maaaring magbigay-daan upang maka-advance ang mga estudyante sa susunod na grade level kahit hindi pa nila ganap na nama-master ang mahahalagang aralin,” ani Gatchalian.
“Kung nais nating matuldukan ang krisis sa edukasyon, kailangang tiyakin nating nasusukat natin sa tamang paraan ang kakayahan ng ating mga mag-aaral,” dagdag pa niya.
Inilabas kamakailan ng DepEd ang updated grading system nito (DepEd Order No. 015 s. 2026), kung saan nakasaad ang adjusted transmutation table para sa Grades 4 to 12, kabilang ang Grades 2 and 3 na nagpapatupad pa rin ng numerical grading system. Sa ilalim ng bagong polisiya, ang initial grade na 70 hanggang 71.17 ay magkakaroon ng transmuted grade na 75 para sa School Year (SY) 2026-2027. Magsisilbing transition ang polisiyang ito patungo sa zero-based grading system simula SY 2027-2028, kung saan irereport ang computed grade nang walang transmutation.
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Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS WIN GATCHALIAN
