DONNABELLE P. CABRAL – MAED Language Teaching
DM No. 103, s. 2009 – Pilot Test of the Special Program in Journalism at the Secondary
Level
School Publication serves as an avenue for the learners who aspire to be a journalist.
While it is deemed that freedom of expression should be exercised, SPO or School Publication
Organization is an essential venue for the students to bring up and raise their voices to the
proper school authorities. Of course, this doesn’t limit only to the students, but this could also
be a way of uniting everyone in the school.
On August 19, 1992, the central office circulated DepEd Order 94, s. 1992 also known as
“PROMULGATING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF RA 7079 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CAMPUS JOURNALISM
ACT OF 1991”. This goes to show that the Department of Education supports the
establishment of School Publication and that every SPO should abide by the rules just like how
our estimable journalists uphold theirs.
In consonance with the above-mentioned DepEd Order, the significance of SPO is
undeniably essential in training young journalists and giving them the chance to practice their
craft and share their thoughts and insights about certain issues and why is it important.
Special Program in Journalism is one of the Special Interest Programs issued by DepEd.
Before implementing these SIPs, here’s the guideline for its implementation.
Level
School
Objective
To prepare different
documents, resources
and facilities needed
Activities
a. Preparation for the
implementation
Documents to be
prepared and
submitted
1. Application Letter
2. Feasibility studies
and Project Proposal
3. List of Qualified
learners
4. Assessment tool in
identifying qualified
learners
5. Assessment Results
6. Parents' Consent
7. Class Program
8. Teachers' Program
Timeline
October to
December
9. Teachers'
Qualification
Standards
SO
To review documents
submitted by the
schools
a. Receive the application
letter with the required
documents
10. Inventory of
facilities and needed
resources
1. Endorsement
January of the
succeeding year
b. Evaluate documents
RO
To issue endorsement/a
approval for the
applications
c. Endorse the RO
a. Receive the application
with the required documents
1. Accomplished
Checklist of
Requirements
b. Review the documents
School
To implement the
program
c. Do on-site validation
2. On-site Validation
Report
d. Issue
endorsement/approval
a. Implement the program
3. Endorsement/A
approval
1. Narrative Report
February to
April
(succeeding
year)
June
(succeeding
year)
Source: teacherph.com
SPJ is founded on the following legal bases:
1. Section 2 of RA 7079 also known as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991.
2. Rule 2, Section 2 of the Implementing Rules, and Regulations of CJA of 1991.
3. DepEd Memorandum No. 149 s. 2011, Career Pathways for High School Students.
4. DepEd Memorandum No. 46 s. 2012, Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of the Special
Curricular Programs at the Secondary Level.
5. DepEd Order No. 021 s. 2019, Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program.
What is its Focus?
The program is a four-year course in journalism at the secondary level. It is designed to develop the
learners’ skills in mass communication, print, online, and broadcast media. Its main focus is primarily
on writing as a process and as an art.
SPJ aims to:
• Strengthen free and responsible journalism in secondary schools;
• Identify areas of development in various aspects of journalism;
• Formulate concrete plans of action for the pilot implementation of the program;
• Orient the participants on the program, its scope, target clientele, implementing guidelines, and its
learning standards;
• Enhance students’ and teachers’ journalistic skills and competencies;
• Promote a spirit of camaraderie, cooperation, and commitment of our youths to contribute to the
common good, national unity, and progress.
• Ensure commitment and shared responsibility towards the attainment of program goals.
What is the coverage of the four-year specialization program?
THE CURRICULUM
The curriculum is a four-year specialization program covering the following subjects:
FIRST-YEAR
1. JOURNALISM I
The course introduces the learners to the basics of journalism. It prepares them for the tasks of writing
articles for publication and facilitates them in editing articles in the newsroom.
2. ADVANCED ENGLISH I
The course will further develop the learners’ language proficiency to equip them with the enabling
tools in journalistic writing.
SECOND-YEAR
1. JOURNALISM 2
The course will develop the learners’ skills in scriptwriting and broadcasting.
2. ADVANCED ENGLISH II
The course will further develop the learners’ skills in speech development and public speaking.
THIRD-YEAR
1. JOURNALISM 3
The course will enhance the learners’ talent in radio and television news script production and
broadcasting.
2. ADVANCED ENGLISH III
The course will further develop the learners’ skills in technical writing and research.
FOURTH-YEAR
1. JOURNALISM 4
The course will provide the learners with hands-on experience in producing a school paper through
print and online publishing through the World Wide Web (WWW).
2. ADVANCED ENGLISH IV
The course will provide the learners with complete exposure and hands-on experience in the actual
workplace.
What are the instructional materials to be used?
The program shall utilize print and non-print materials. No specific textbook is recommended, but
schools are encouraged to provide instructional references and courseware related to the program.
Source: https://depedbatangas.org/programs/special-programs/spj/
Admission Requirements:
From what I have researched, DepEd Batangas’ admission is open to incoming first-year high school
learners who have obtained an average of at least 88% in English and Filipino and a general average of
85% and above in Grade Six, who exhibit talent in journalism and who have passed the qualifying test
and interview to be conducted by the school.
Recommendation/s: