As part of ongoing reforms in the education sector.
A week into the new school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) said that has released a “simpler and more flexible” framework for lesson planning.
Under the new guidelines signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Lesson Planning and Learning Design, which replaces the DepEd Order No. 42, s. 2016, the strict distinction between “Detailed Lesson Plans” and “Daily Lesson Logs” had been removed.
Instead, there will now be a unified approach that emphasizes instructional thinking, student needs, and effective classroom teaching.
Under the ILAW framework, which consists of four key components: Intentions, Learning Experience, Assessing Learning, and Ways Forward.
This will guide teachers in identifying learning goals, designing meaningful learning experiences, assessing student understanding, and determining next steps for student development such as remediation, reteaching, or enrichment.
The said policy also states that teachers and Alternative Learning System (ALS) implementers should not be required to provide components beyond those specified in the framework.
Furthermore, it also prohibits regional and division offices, as well as individual schools and community learning centers, from requiring additional lesson plan templates or supplementary documentation outside of the new simplified standards.
Secretary Angara emphasized that the reform aims to move lesson planning away from compliance-heavy paperwork and shift the focus to high-quality teaching. “Hindi na dapat inuubos ang oras ng ating mga guro sa pagsusulat ng mahahabang lesson plan. Ang mahalaga ay malinaw ang layunin ng aralin, handa ang guro, at natututo ang bata sa loob ng classroom,” he said.
To further reduce workload, DepEd is encouraging collaborative lesson planning, resource-sharing, and digitalization.
These shared lesson plans will be recognized as valid evidence of preparation, as long as teachers are able to properly implement the lesson.
The policy also clarifies that lesson planning guides and sample templates are only reference tools and should not be considered the only required national format, with plans to be considered adequate if the ILAW components are clear and aligned.
The guidelines, in addition, now allows for the responsible use of artificial intelligence—such as grammar or spelling checks and formatting support—but emphasize that it cannot replace the professional judgment of teachers.
Teachers also remain responsible for identifying learning objectives, designing learning experiences and strategies, addressing student needs, and validating any AI-assisted content before it is used in the classroom.
According to Angara, the policy reflects the DepEd’s trust in teachers as professionals. “Ibinabalik natin ang tiwala sa ating mga guro. Sila ang mas nakakakilala sa kanilang learners, kaya dapat binibigyan natin sila ng malinaw na gabay at sapat na espasyo para magdisenyo ng lessons na tunay na tumutugon sa klase nila.”
School heads and instructional leaders are also likewise instructed to move beyond simply checking lesson plan submissions.
Instead, they are encouraged to focus on coaching, mentoring, and providing constructive feedback to help teachers improve their teaching.
Lastly, this policy also supports inclusive and context-responsive teaching by considering the needs of students, including learners with disabilities, multigrade classes, ALS learners, Indigenous Peoples Education contexts, and potential learning disabilities during disasters, in lesson planning.
Teachers may use their current lesson plan formats until the end of the first term of School Year 2026–2027 amid the transition.
DepEd said that it will provide capacity building and technical assistance to prepare teachers and ALS implementers for the full implementation of the revised guidelines starting in the second term of SY 2026–2027.