DepEd to Gradually End Grade Transmutation Policy, Says Angara

The Department of Education (DepEd) will gradually phase out its grade transmutation policy, which allows students with low raw grades to receive passing marks and move on to the next grade level, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on Thursday.

In an interview over dzRH radio, Angara cited concerns raised by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2) over the “mass promotion” of students who have not yet mastered essential skills. Under the current system, a grade as low as 60 can still be transmuted into a passing 75.

Angara said the policy will be slowly discontinued in line with Edcom’s recommendations.

“That is what we will gradually stop because while it’s good that the teacher sympathizes with the student, we are just postponing the problem further,” Angara said. “Even if we say that the student will someday learn, it’s not really happening.”

He added that transmuted grades are not used in international assessments or college entrance exams, making the system inconsistent with current standards.

As part of the reforms, DepEd will fully implement the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (Aral) program under Republic Act No. 12028 to help students catch up in key subjects. Under the law, teachers will no longer serve as tutors for students who fail.