The Department of Education (DepEd) is moving to modernize the way scouting programs are implemented in Philippine basic education, with a proposed policy aimed at making the system more responsive, inclusive and better aligned with the needs of today’s learners.
The proposed changes involve the harmonization and revision of the existing DepEd rules governing Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting, which were established more than a decade ago.
DepEd’s move comes as scouting continues to be viewed as an important avenue for developing leadership, discipline, preparedness, service and practical life skills among Filipino students.
A policy written in 2012 is now being reconsidered
The current framework is largely based on DepEd Order No. 76, s. 2012, which provides the guidelines for revitalizing Boy Scouting in schools, and DepEd Order No. 86, s. 2012, which covers the revitalization of Girl Scouting.
Under those orders, scouting is recognized as a co-curricular program that can contribute to leadership and values formation.
The rules also state that scouting membership is voluntary and cannot be imposed as a requirement for enrollment, transfer or clearance of students.
But more than a decade after those policies were issued, DepEd is now looking at whether the existing framework remains appropriate for today’s schools and learners.
A recent Schools Division Office of Pasig City memorandum confirms that stakeholders are being invited to discuss the proposed revision of DepEd Orders 76 and 86, s. 2012, specifically to harmonize the implementation of scouting programs in basic education.
Why the proposed changes matter
The push comes at a time when DepEd is placing renewed emphasis on activities that take students beyond the classroom.
DepEd Undersecretary for Governance and Operations Malcolm Garma recently called for stronger sports, arts and outdoor activities, including scouting, saying students need constructive ways to channel their energy and spend less time relying exclusively on digital devices.
Garma specifically cited scouting as one of the outdoor activities that could help provide students with meaningful alternatives.
The proposal therefore comes amid a wider conversation about how schools can help young people develop social, physical and practical skills while navigating an increasingly digital environment.
Scouting is also being linked to safety and disaster preparedness
The modernization push is not happening in isolation.
In June, Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted the role of scouting in teaching life-saving and survival skills, particularly as young people face risks associated with disasters and outdoor activities.
Angara said DepEd and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines were expected to discuss strengthening swimming and water-survival skills for Scouts.
He stressed that while authorities cannot eliminate every danger young people may encounter, they can help prepare them to respond to emergencies.
GMA News likewise reported in June that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines was looking to strengthen swimming and water-survival training as part of efforts to improve youth preparedness and safety.
That emphasis could become particularly relevant as the Philippines continues to confront typhoons, floods, earthquakes and other emergencies.
The proposal involves both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
One of the most significant aspects of the planned review is that it concerns the two major scouting organizations operating within the basic education system.
DepEd Order No. 76 governs the Boy Scouts of the Philippines program, while DepEd Order No. 86 covers the Girl Scouts of the Philippines program.
The existing Girl Scouting guidelines, for example, encourage schools to promote participation while explicitly stating that membership must remain voluntary.
The Boy Scouting order contains a similar voluntary-membership provision.
The proposed harmonization could therefore provide a more unified framework for how scouting activities are coordinated inside schools while preserving the distinct identities and programs of the two organizations.
Scouting programs are already active in schools
The proposed policy review does not mean scouting programs have been put on hold.
Current DepEd records show that scouting activities continue across different parts of the country.
In Metro Manila, for example, the Schools Division Office of Pasig City has issued various scouting-related directives in 2026, including activities involving the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
Other DepEd offices have likewise continued implementing scouting activities and training programs this year.
The Schools Division Office of Dasmariñas, for instance, recently issued guidelines for the annual Girl Scouts registration for School Year 2026–2027, demonstrating that existing scouting programs remain operational while broader policy discussions are underway.
What students and parents should know
For now, parents and students should not interpret the proposal as an immediate change to existing scouting rules.
The revision remains a policy-development process. The existing DepEd orders continue to provide the formal framework unless and until a new issuance replaces, amends or supersedes them.
That distinction is important because discussions about modernization can easily be mistaken for an already-approved nationwide policy.
What DepEd is currently exploring is how scouting can better fit the realities of contemporary basic education — including leadership development, outdoor learning, safety, preparedness and broader participation.
The bigger question
The proposed overhaul raises a larger question for Philippine education: What should scouting look like for Filipino students in 2026 and beyond?
Traditional camping, knots, badges and outdoor activities remain part of scouting’s identity. But the needs of today’s learners are considerably broader.
Digital citizenship, emergency preparedness, environmental responsibility, leadership, physical activity, community service and personal safety are increasingly important components of youth development.
DepEd’s current discussions suggest that the government wants scouting to evolve alongside those needs rather than simply preserve a framework created in 2012.
And that may be the most important part of the story.
The rules have not yet been replaced — but the process of deciding what the next generation of Philippine school scouting should look like is already underway.
Leave a Reply