To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau Directors
Directors of Services, Centers and Heads of Units
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Public Elementary Schools

1. In view of the implementation of the Grades 1 and 2 Curricula of the K to 12 Basic Education Program and per DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2012 entitled Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of Grades 1 to 10 of the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum Effective School Year 2012-2013, the public elementary schools are advised to adhere to the following guidelines:
   Instructional Time
   1. For Grade 1, instructional time for the first semester is 240 minutes or 4 hours per day, and 270 minutes or 4 hours and 30 minutes per day during the second semester;
   2. For Grade 2, a total of 310 minutes or 5 hours and 10 minutes per day for each semester shall be alloted;
   3. The instructional time for both Grades 1 and 2 should be able to temporarily address the urgent needs for the classrooms and teachers;
   4. Time spent for the special instructional programs is part of the required number of working hours for teachers;

   Special Instructional Programs

   5. School heads /principals should provide special instructional programs such as remediation for “the less able” children, reinforcement for “the able children”, and enrichment for “the more able children” to ensure that children are able to meet the standards set and competencies expected of them;
   6. Instructional programs should be conducted on opposite sessions such that children attending classes in the morning will have their special instruction in the afternoon;

   Team Teaching

   7. Team teaching is encouraged in Grades 4, 5 and 6. This scheme will make teachers become more subject-focused and will have more time to prepare the necessary and appropriate instructional materials;

   Tracking of Progress

   8. Teachers should have time to track the progress of the children in every subject/learning area and to identify competency-related factors affecting their performance in the subject, and to be able to provide appropriate interventions whenever necessary; and

   Monitoring and Supervision

   9. Regular monitoring and supervision by the school heads is a must to assure effective and efficient implementation of the special instructional programs and team teaching scheme.
2. To ensure that the children are able to meet the standards set and the competencies expected of them in the K to 12 Basic Education Program, all regional directors (RDs) and schools division/city superintendents (SDSs) are enjoined to strengthen the K to 12 Basic Education Program Delivery System for Elementary Education.
3. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.

Reference:
DepEd Order: (No. 31, s. 2012)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
POLICY
PROGRAMS
PUPILS
SCHOOLS

DO_s2013_014