A now-deleted viral graphic claiming that the Department of Education announced the addition of Grade 13 level to senior high school starting school year 2025–2026 has circulated online. This is fake.
Published on May 17 by an FB page created on the same day, the bogus graphic bore the logos of DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education and a caption that read:
“ANNOUNCEMENT!
Please Share!
To all Parents and students take time to read, additional one year for Senior Higschool, this is because https://bit.ly/Grade13_SeniorHigh See more…
Ito ang mga dahilan (this is the reason)
https://bit.ly/DepEdNew-Curriculum2025-2026 See more…
k12education #nograde11 #DepEdPhilippines”
DepEd labeled this as “fake news” in a statement on May 18 as it reminded the public to be cautious and discerning against misinformation.
“Para sa opisyal na mga anunsiyo at impormasyon tungkol sa basic education, bisitahin lamang ang official DepEd Philippines social media accounts,” the education department said.
(For official announcements and information about basic education, visit only the official DepEd Philippines social media accounts.)
The post did not provide any evidence to support its claim. The links attached in the caption, which supposedly explain the rationale for adding another year to the basic education system, instead redirect netizens to an e-commerce site.
Although the majority of netizens reacted with a “haha” emoji in the fake post, comments suggest some users were misled, with one stating, “Grabe kayo dagdag gastos sa aming mga magulang at another hirap [sa] mga anak namin. (You’re too much, additional expense for us parents and another hardship for our children).”
VERA Files has fact-checked similar false claims that have been circulating since 2020 (Read: FALSE claim on DepED adding ‘Grade 13’ level circulates anew, DepEd DID NOT add a new ‘Grade 13’ level for students).
Although DepEd previously released a draft of its revised senior high school curriculum for the upcoming school year, streamlining the current tracks from four to two and core subjects from 15 to five, among others, it never mentioned anything about adding a Grade 13 level.
Posted by FB page Educational News, the now-defunct fake DepEd announcement garnered 189,000 reactions, 164 comments, and 218,000 shares. Other copies—reposted by Jajq (created on April 22, 2025) and Educational News (created on May 18, 2025)—have so far collectively received 1,205 interactions.
