Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Special Program in The Arts (Spa) Implementing Guidelines I. Rationale
Special Program in The Arts (Spa) Implementing Guidelines I. Rationale
I. RATIONALE:
The Department of Education as the prime mover in building the nation has a direct responsibility in
overseeing the effective and full implementation of the Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) that is closest to the
learner’s growth and development.
With this, the Special Program in the Arts offers a comprehensive Basic Education centered on the Arts,
covering a range of art forms and disciplines. Arts education is an integral component of a balanced educational
program which aims to prepare graduates for the world of work, for higher education, and for entrepreneurship.
This is a program which also helps learners with potentials or talents in the arts namely, Music, Dance, Theatre
Arts, Visual Arts, Media Arts, and Creative Writing that will contribute to the socio-cultural and economic growth of
the country in accordance with the Philippine Constitution Article XIV Sections. 2, 3,10,14, 18 and R.A No. 9155
otherwise known as “Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001.”
To address diverse types of learners and multiple intelligences, the Special Program in the Arts should be
sustained, thus, the objectives are as follow:
1. develop knowledge and skills of students with potential in the Arts: Music, Visual Arts, Theater Arts, Media
Arts, Creative Writing, Dance, and/or Traditional Arts;
3. hone the learners’ various facilities of expression to communicate their ideas and feelings through their
chosen art forms;
4. foster a sense of pride of being a Filipino through appreciation of culture and arts;
5. cultivate aesthetic awareness and identity; and
6. develop the habits of heart and mind students will need as preparation for life and work in a postmodern
society regardless of their chosen career.
The Special Program in the Arts (SPA) is a nationwide program for students who have demonstrated talent or
potential in the arts.
This policy shall apply to all learners in both public and private schools who are artistically gifted and with
good academic performance in the following art specializations:
1. Dance
2. Music (Vocal and Instrumental)
3. Media Arts
4. Theater Arts
5. Visual Arts
6. Creative Writing
For the purpose of this policy, the following terms shall be understood as follows:
Aesthetic Awareness - has been described as one of the defining qualities of being human. Becoming aware of
the beauty of sound – a part of aesthetic awareness – requires key listening skills. Sometimes the most unusual
sounds and beautiful sights can strike a chord within us, and even within a precocious young child.
Artistically gifted - learners who often demonstrate talent in their chosen medium, whether it’s music, visual
arts, theater arts, media arts, creative writing, and dance.
Diverse learners - are learners that are racially, ethnically, culturally, economically and or linguistically diverse.
They are learners who learn differently from the majority.
Folk art - covers all forms of visual arts made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the
objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. Tangible folk art includes
objects which are historically crafted and used within a traditional community.
Multiple intelligences - represent different intellectual abilities in which an artist approaches a range of tasks
categorized in a number of different ways like verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, music, bodily-
kinesthetic, intrapersonal and interpersonal.
Retention - is repeating an academic year in school due to three (3) or more failed subjects and non-compliance
with the required minimum number of attendance. (Ref: D.O. No. 8, s. 2015).
SPA Program Head - the person in-charge of the programs and activities of the SPA and assumes the duties
and responsibilities of a head teacher.
Special Training - refers to relevant local or international capability building activity of teachers to build their
competencies which will enable them to handle the demands in teaching the art disciplines sponsored and/or
initiated by the Department of Education, accredited institutions/service providers.
Teachers Specialist - is a permanent/regular teacher with special training in the arts hired to handle/teach any
of the arts discipline.
Teacher Trainers - are hired art practitioners outside of DepEd whose services are paid in a contractual basis.
1. ENROLMENT
I- Learner Selection
1.1 Selection Committee:
The committee shall compose of the following:
Chair: School Principal
Co-Chair: SPA Program Head
Members: SPA Teachers
Guidance in Charge
1.2.1 Written Examination (Prepared by the teachers of the art disciplines/art specialization/HSOII)
10 items per Discipline - 20%
1.2.2 Audition - 50%
1.2.3 Portfolio presentation - 20%
1.2.4 Interview - 10%
1.3 The applicant who has acquired/ accumulated a minimum of 60% will be admitted in the Special
Program in the Arts (1.2)
1.4 Basic documentary requirements for selection:
1.5 After the selection process, the SPA Department Head shall submit the following:
a. List of enrollees per specialization
b. Class Program
c. List of learning materials, equipment, and
facilities
d. Blue print of SPA Classrooms,
laboratories, and other facilities
A. The school shall offer a four-year curriculum based on the K to 12 Basic Education Program with
specialization in the Arts.
1. Dance
Learners will develop techniques, movement, vocabulary, and a deeper understanding of dance as a form
of communication and expression. Dance offerings may include cultural, folk, ballet, and jazz. Emphasis
should be given on the native dances of the region. The language of instruction will be bilingual.
2. Music
The Music Program is designed for learners with interest in vocal and instrumental music. The region may
use their own instruments or local/folk songs. The language of instruction will be bilingual.
3. Theater Arts
There’s a great deal of emphasis on group work skills and live performances on spoken text in a number of
styles and genres in the Theater Arts program. Contemporary and classical acting techniques will be
introduced. Regions may also use their own theater art forms as materials. The language of instruction will
be bilingual.
4. Creative Writing
Learners will be trained to explore and write their own ideas and experiences. They will study and work on
all genres like poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc. The study and use of local materials like their own folklore
will be encouraged. The language of instruction will be bilingual.
5. Media Arts
The Media Art Program teaches learners to use elements and tools of current and emerging technologies
to create works and express feelings and ideas. Learners will be trained to analyze and create work
through photography, video, short film, audio, interactive media, etc. The language of instruction will be in
bilingual.
6. Visual Arts
The Visual Arts Program will help learners discover what they can produce through their own creativity in
paintings, print making, creative crafts and design, computer graphics, sculpture, and folk arts. The
language of instruction will be bilingual.
B. In addition to Dance and Music which are the basic requirements, the school shall choose at least two
from among the following disciplines, namely, Theater Arts, Creative Writing, Media Arts, and Visual Arts
C. The SPA shall be opened to Key Stages 2 and 3 learners enrolled in Philippines schools.
D. The learners of the SPA must:
a. have potential/skills in any of the arts specialization offered, and
b. have participated in arts activities/competitions, as attested by school principal.
E. The learners admitted to the Special Program in the Arts shall form a separate section/class.
III- TRANSFER
1. SPA learners who wish to transfer to another SPA school shall be admitted provided that they:
a. come from any of the schools implementing the SPA; and
b. submit the documents required for admission in the program as stated in 1.4.
2. Transfer out of the program shall be accepted in the regular program provided that the learner
has satisfactorily met the basic requirements without any deficiency.
There shall be a maximum of forty-five (45) learners per class in a school that offers the Special Program in
the Arts.
The Arts specialization shall be offered for two (2) hours a day. Should there be a need to have enhancement
of the skills per specialization, this shall be done outside of class hours.
Standard equipment and facilities of the selected specialization/s offered by the school or must have access
equipment and facilities available within the locality, namely:
LEARNING DELIVERY
Teaching and learning activities that may be adopted depend on the delivery modalities as well as on the
learning needs and contexts of learners such as:
Formal learning activities: learning activities have a more defined program management structure, owing to
the multiple tasks that need to be orchestrated, a face-to-face setting is recommended;
Blended modalities (i.e., face-to-face and online): may adopt the online program delivery, especially since
face-to-face sessions oftentimes involve computer-aided learning activities;
Situated learning: such as field work, practicums, and other situated learning can support achievement of a
wide range of learning outcomes;
Defining session and module outcomes: by breaking down units into smaller components. This helps
ensure that everything you wish learners to be able to do is taught and done within the unit. Identified gaps in
supporting development of the LOs may be addressed by providing sufficient scaffolding to learners;
Benchmarking activities: depend largely on the objectives, scope, duration, number of learners, and target
sites for benchmarking that would reinforce teaching and learning;
Coaching: a strategy of helping individuals or teams to fulfill their potentials to excel in their performance;
Mentoring: a mentor usually provides the knowledge, guidance and insight on request or on call. Mentors
are typically experienced people with a high level of knowledge of the art discipline and how things are done.
“Ignorance of our cultural strength and positive qualities as a people results in lack of pride of being a Filipino.
Lack of pride being Filipino causes lack of commitment to the nation, a low level of achievement or even
mediocrity”- Felipe De Leon (Former NCCA Commissioner).
The Special Program in the Arts SPA, is a program that promotes awareness for Arts and Culture and
provides Filipino leaners opportunities to hone their skills and talents along the different art disciplines. As teachers
find great joy in preserving, promoting, and eventually protecting our national heritage, we as a nation shall
continue to pass these on from the present to the next generation.
Corollary to DepEd’s vision and mission, the SPA offers a comprehensive basic education program that is
responsive to learners whose inclination and interest is on Music, Dance, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, Media Arts, and
Creative Writing. Moreover, this program prepares learners to be attuned with the creative world of industries,
having Arts Education as the major component of a holistic development. Hence, as an essential element in our
educational system, schools are encouraged to implement this program wholeheartedly.
3.TEACHER SPECIALIST/TRAINER:
A teacher specialist must: (INDUCTION)
3.1. be a graduate of any of the following
courses:
BSE, BSEED, BM, BS MUSIC, FINE
ARTS, BA in THEATER, GDCE,
GDTA, CPE, BPE Major in Dance, and
other courses with at least 18
units in Education
3.2. be a licensed teacher
3.3. have attended trainings in any of the arts
discipline,
3.4 be a practitioner in the field
3.5. be strongly interested in the arts
3.6. be willing to have special training in
humanities
3.7. be physically, psychologically, and
mentally fit.
3.8. be committed, dedicated, passionate, and
willing to stay in the program
for at least five (5) years.
IN-SERVICE
1. Evaluation
The National, Regional and Division Committees shall convene to formulate an evaluation instrument
for the program with the Monitoring & Evaluation of both the regional and division offices.
The evaluation of the learners shall be conducted quarterly
The regional committee shall have a quarterly consultation with the school head and teachers regarding
instructional and administrative concerns and provide quarterly feedback to the national committee on
issues concern regarding the implementation of the program.
2. Ratings
Subjects such as English, Filipino, Science, Mathematics, Araling Panlipunan, MAPEH and EsP shall
be rated/treated as K to 12 BEP subjects.
EPP/TLE shall be integrated according to the needs of the art specializations
Specialization is given a daily time allotment of two (2) hours, broken down as follows:
1 hour for theory
1 hour for practicum
The ratings for specialization shall be based on the portfolio assessment which records the progress of the
learner (based on work outputs) towards a marked competency and is given a weight of 40% and the performance
assessment of the learner for every grading period that is given a weight of 60%.
A. Portfolio Assessment
1. Written Work
20%
Essays
Reaction/Reflection Paper
Research Paper
2. Quarterly Assessment 20%
B. Performance Tasks 60%
TOTAL 100%
Recognition
A culminating activity in the form of exhibits/recitals shall be conducted quarterly to display/showcase
the evidence of their art work and/or perform their special talents.
A gold medal will be awarded to the most outstanding leaners per specialization at the end of the school
year.
National
Regional
Division
School Head/
Principal
SPA Program
Head
SPA Teacher/ SPA Teacher/ SPA Teacher/ SPA Teacher/ SPA Teacher/
Trainer Trainer Trainer Trainer Trainer
1. DepEd Central Office Coordinator
1. Monitors the implementation of the different SPA schools in every region
2. Conducts Program Implementation Review and necessary training to bridge the gap and/or to
enhance the program
3. Coordinates SPA activities for the different region
1. The Special Program in the Arts shall be a separate entity from other departments.
2. The School Head shall designate a Program Head and is empowered to assume the duties
and responsibilities of a Head Teacher.
4.1. Principal/School Head
1.1 Attends professional/special training in the Special Curricular Program offering
1.2 Attends capability enhancement
1.3 Commits to the development and continuance of the existing Special Program
1.4 Plans and organizes steering committee
1.5 Prepares an action plan regarding Special Program that includes human, materials, and
financial resources
• The School Head will write a letter to the Schools Division Superintendent for the Opening of the Special
Program in the Arts Classes in their school.
• The SDS will endorse the letter to the Regional Director.
3. Extend concern as part of the reaching out plan of the school in providing the Special Program
in the Arts other than the school setting but also in the community as well.
3.1 Offer free showcase of Talents (to the K to 12 learners and parents)
3.2 Conduct of Summer Art Workshop with 10-15-day service credits or stipend to the Teacher-Specialists
3.3 Participation to community activities as guest performers e.g. cultural shows,Fiestas, Foundation Day,
Holy Week, etc.
4. Procure assessment/screening tools and assistive devices for Special Program in the Arts learners.
5. Recognize deserving SPA Teachers andstudents through “Gawad Sining Parangal.”
EFFECTIVITY
This policies and guidelines shall take effect immediately upon its approval by the Secretary of the
Department of Education or his/her official representative.