DepEd scraps grade transmutation in public schools
The Department of Education will gradually phase out the use of grade transmutation in public schools to address grade inflation, inconsistent promotion standards, and to better reflect students’ actual academic performance.
Under DepEd Order No. 015, s. 2026, DepEd updated classroom assessment, grading, and recognition practices to align with the Revised K to 10 and Strengthened Senior High School curricula. It emphasized assessment as a continuous process that supports learning, informs instruction, and tracks learner progress.
The policy also promotes fair and evidence-based evaluation through authentic assessment tasks and multiple sources of learning evidence, with the goal of ensuring that student achievement is measured and reported accurately.
The revised guidelines emphasize the use of formative assessment to help teachers identify learning gaps, provide timely feedback, and adjust instruction to better support learner progress. Assessment results are also expected to inform instructional planning and learner support across different levels of the education system.
For School Year 2026–2027, DepEd will continue using transmutation through a revised conversion table, where a raw score of 70 will be converted to the passing grade of 75.
Starting School Year 2027–2028, however, transmutation will no longer be applied to students in Grades 4 to 12. This means that raw grades will be reflected directly in the final grade, with a score of 75 remaining 75 without any adjustment.
The new order also sets guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in assessment. Teachers are prohibited from using AI to determine final grades, replace professional judgment, bypass curriculum standards, or evaluate student work without validation.
Meanwhile, AI may be used for tasks such as drafting test items, refining language, brainstorming assessment ideas, creating alternative assessments, differentiating tasks, and drafting feedback, provided that teachers review and validate all outputs.
It will be implemented in all public schools beginning the school year 2026–2027.
Private schools, along with state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and Philippine Schools Overseas, are covered by the policy if they offer basic education. They are expected to align their assessment, grading, and recognition practices with DepEd’s guidelines.
