DepEd Memorandum 050, s. 2025
Learners' Health Assessment and Screening for School Year 2025-2026
JUN 18 2025
DepEd MEMORANDUM
No. 050, s. 2025
LEARNERS' HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND SCREENING FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2025-2026
To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Minister, Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, BARMM
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public Elementary and Secondary School Heads
All Others Concerned
1. In line with the Department of Education's (DepEd) 5-Point Reform Agenda, which prioritizes the protection of learners' physical and mental well-being, DepEd ensures that learners have access to quality medical, dental, nursing, nutrition, and mental health services that will allow them to attain their full educational potential.
2. Learners' Health Assessment and Screening (LHAS) is an integral component of these services, delivered and/ or coordinated by School Health and Nutrition (SHN) Personnel as part of the implementation of Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OK sa DepEd)1.
3. The Department recently released several issuances concerning LHAS, namely:
a. DepEd Order No. 012, s. 2025 or the Multi-Year Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities2;
b. DepEd Memorandum (DM) No. 033, s. 2025 or the Supplemental Guidelines for the Implementation of the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program3; and
c. DM 042, s. 2025 or the 2025 Brigada Eskwela Implementing Guidelines4.
4. To provide further guidance to SHN personnel and other personnel involved in the conduct of LHAS for school year (SY) 2025-2026, the LHAS-related provisions of the aforementioned issuances shall be operationalized as follows:
a. LHAS shall cover all learners from kindergarten to Grade 12, including those enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS);
b. LHAS shall comprise the following components:
i. Master listing;
ii. Nutritional assessment;
iii. Health history intake and general head-to-toe assessment;
iv. Vision and hearing screening;
v. Oral health assessment; and
vi. Universal mental health and psychosocial screening and assessment.
Screening components are non-diagnostic in nature and are intended to identify learners who require further evaluation and/or intervention. The general descriptions of these components are attached as Enclosure No. 1, while the specific guidelines for each component are provided in Enclosure Nos. 2 to 7.
c. At the school level, the Technical Working Group (TWG) for OK sa DepEd, created through DO 028, s. 2018 (Policy and Guidelines on Oplan Kalusugan sa Department of Education), and as amended by DO 002, s. 2024 (Immediate Removal of Administrative Tasks of Public School Teachers) and DO 005, s. 2024 (Rationalization of Teachers' Workload in Public Schools and Payment of Teaching Overload) shall oversee the conduct of all activities related to LHAS. With the school head as the chairperson, the following members of the OK sa DepEd TWG shall serve as the focal persons for the specific components of LHAS, including the coordination with their counterparts at the schools division office (SDO), through the OK sa DepEd TWG, and local partners:
Table 1. School and SDO Personnel in Charge of LHAS Components
Component(s) | School OK sa DepEd TWG Focal Person | SDO Counterpart (SDO OK sa DepEd TWG) |
i. Master listing | Clinic focal5 | Medical Officer III and/or Nurse-in-Charge/Nurse II designated to coordinate medical and nursing services (in the absence of Medical Officer III) |
ii. Nutritional assessment | ||
iii. Health history intake, general head-to-toe assessment and vision and hearing | ||
iv. Oral health screening | Dentist II and/or Nurse-in-Charge/Nurse II designated to coordinate dental services (in the absence of the Dentist II) | |
v. Universal mental health and psychosocial screening and assessment | School’s Registered Guidance Counselor (RGC) and/or Guidance Advocate | Designated Program Coordinators of the School Mental Health Program and the Adolescent Reproductive Health Program, and Schools Division Counselor, when already hired, or any equivalent SDO personnel designated to coordinate guidance and counseling services. |
As focal persons, school-based personnel listed are primarily in charge of coordination activities, including reportorial tasks. The actual assessment shall be administered only by qualified and/ or trained professionals, as identified in the specific guidelines for each component of LHAS, provided in the Enclosures of this Memorandum.
d. Tasks assigned to teachers in the conduct of LHAS as stipulated in this memorandum shall be integrated in the teachers' performance of both teaching and ancillary tasks, as applicable. Tasks such as vision screening of Kindergarten learners, administering universal mental health and psychosocial screening of learners in one's advisory class, and spotting behaviors or situations indicative of mental health concerns among learners shall be considered as Teacher Ancillary Tasks under classroom management or class adviser duties, pursuant to DO 005, s. 2024, or other subsequent issuances on Teachers' Workload.
e. The SDO OK sa DepEd TWG shall facilitate collaboration with the local government units (LGUs), PhilHealth offices, universities offering medical and allied health programs, professional organizations, and other partners to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the activities necessary for LHAS. This collaboration shall include, but not be limited to the following:
i. deployment of qualified and/ or trained professionals to administer the assessment;
ii. setting up referral mechanisms; and
iii. establishing data sharing agreements to facilitate the completion of the necessary learner data.
f. Below is the prescribed schedule for the conduct of LHAS:
Table 2. Prescribed Schedule for LHAS
Date/Schedule | Activities | Target |
June 9, 2025 Start of Brigada Eskwela6 | Start of master listing and LHAS scheduling | All learners |
Start of promoting the registration of learners to the National Health Insurance Program7 | All learners | |
Securing consent from parents/parent-substitutes/legal guardians and information dissemination activities for stakeholders | All learnersq | |
June 16, 2025 Beginning of the School Year | Start of baseline nutritional assessment8 | K to G6 |
Start of vision and hearing screening9 | K, G1, G7 | |
July 4, 2025 Three weeks after the start of classes | Completion the baseline nutritional assessment | K to G6 |
Completion of LHAS scheduling (as part of master listing)10 | All learners | |
Target end date for vision and hearing screening | K, G1, G7 | |
July 7-11, 2025 OK sa DepEd-One Health Week | Start of the health history intake and general head-to-toe assessment, and of oral health screening11 | All learners |
August 11, 2025 Eight weeks after the start of classes | Start of the annual psychosocial screening (i.e. Rapid HEEADSSS) | G4 to G12 |
and universal mental health screening (i.e., CARS)12 | All learners | |
December 19, 2025 Last school day of 2025 | Completion of the annual psychosocial and universal mental health screenings | All learners |
March 27, 2026 Last school day of SY 2025-2026 before EOSY Rites | Target date of completion of endline nutritional assessment | SBFP beneficiaries |
5. The SHN personnel shall strive to ensure that all learners undergo LHAS within the school year. The actual target and timeline per school will depend on the capacity of the school, its partners, and the SDO concerned, determined through multi-stakeholder coordination and planning. Factors in determining the school's capacity include the size of the SDO; the number of health personnel in DepEd, at the LGU, and among partners who can administer the assessment; the geographic features of/ distance between schools; the time required for travel and conducting activities; and the availability of funds.
6. To support the conduct of LHAS in schools, SDOs, through their SHN Sections, shall implement the following strategies:
a. OK sa DepEd TWG's oversight of the conduct of the assessment. Consistent with Item No. 4.c of this memorandum, the SDO OK sa DepEd TWG shall be primarily in charge of ensuring that schools under their jurisdiction conduct LHAS as scheduled. The schools division counselor, when already hired, or any equivalent SDO personnel designated to coordinate guidance and counseling services (e.g., a RGC who may be detailed at the SDO), although not an identified member of the SDO OK sa DepEd TWG per DO 028, s. 2018, shall also be primarily involved in the conduct of universal mental health and psychosocial screening and assessment.
b. Collaboration with LGUs and other external partners. Consistent with Item No. 4.e of this Memorandum, schools shall ensure that all LHAS activities are done in collaboration with stakeholders, as facilitated by the SDO.
c. Planning and coordination of SDO personnel with schools. The SDO OK sa DepEd TWG, through the focal persons concerned, shall ensure that schools under their respective jurisdictions are properly oriented and onboarded about LHAS and related activities. As an output, the SDOs shall endeavor to come up with implementation plans based on time and motion analysis, ensuring alignment with targets and timelines along with the assessment of capacities and available resources. School-level preparations relative to the various components of LHAS are outlined in the specific guidelines for each component.
d. Monitoring and reporting. All involved shall ensure the effective monitoring and documentation of all activities utilizing the forms and report templates provided. SDOs are encouraged to document the best practices, observe implementation challenges and gaps, and monitor progress to effectively inform continuous improvement of the initiatives. Submission of reports related to the assessment shall be subject to the omnibus guidelines on reporting of school health data and activities for fiscal year 2025 to be issued separately. The information to be collected as results of LHAS shall be handled with utmost confidentiality and privacy in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and the data privacy policies of the Department.
7. Expenses for the conduct of LHAS and related activities may be charged to the Program Support Funds (PSF) provided for School Health Programs for FY 2025 13 or to local funds under Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, as available. All offices and schools are also enjoined to pursue partnerships that may allow for the augmentation of costs and resource requirements of the activities.
8. To support the uniform implementation of LHAS nationwide and ensure the standardized recording and reporting of learners' health-related data, field offices and schools are enjoined to use the templates, forms, and other tools for the components of LHAS which may be accessed at https://bit.ly/DepEdLHASSY2526Forms.
9. The LHAS is part of a more comprehensive menu of school-based health and nutrition services that shall be made accessible to all learners throughout the school year, as stipulated in Item No. 19 of DO 012, s. 2025. These services, which cover the full spectrum of care from prevention to intervention and postvention, shall follow existing guidelines and protocols, pending the issuance of the omnibus guidelines covering all SHN services.
10. The SHD Forms mentioned in the Enclosures of this Memorandum refer to the existing forms, currently used by the field, with minor revisions for suitability to the purpose of this memorandum. Such may be accessed through https://bit.ly/SHDForms2025. The SDOs that have already printed and distributed previous versions of the forms may continue to utilize them until the release of the said omnibus guidelines. Other SDOs are encouraged to adopt updated versions of these forms.
11. The LHAS and related activities, and other health services (e.g., immunization, deworming) shall not be considered co-curricular activities that are limited to being conducted only every two weeks, pursuant to Item No. 16 of DO 012, s. 2025.
12. While this Memorandum provides guidelines, templates, and tools specifically for the general learner population, the same can be used as a reference when conducting health assessments for learners in special situations or specific contexts, such as learner-athletes participating in competitions or those applying for or participating in scholarship programs and education-related travels.
13. This Memorandum can also be a reference for private schools and other schools that are not directly under the control and supervision of DepEd, including those under the state universities and colleges/local universities and colleges.
14. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division, 3rd Floor, Mabini Building, Department of Education Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City through email at blss.shd@deped.gov.ph or telephone (02) 8632-9935.
15. Immediate dissemination of this Memorandum is desired.
By Authority of the Secretary
(SGD) ATTY. FATIMA LIPP D. PANONTONGAN
Undersecretary
Encls.:
As stated
References:
DepEd Order (Nos. 012, s. 2025; 005 and 002 s. 2024; 28, s. 2018; and 12, s. 2015)
DepEd Memorandum (Nos. 042 and 033, s. 2025)
To be indicated in the Perpetual Index
under the following subjects:
BENEFITS
BUREAUS AND OFFICES
SERVICE
TEACHERS
TEACHING LOAD
WORK HOURS
Footnotes:
1 Launched through DepEd Order No. 028, s. 2018 or the Policy and Guidelines on Oplan Kalusugan sa Department of Education
2 Under Sec. V General Guidelines, Item C.13.d Conduct of Mandatory Learners' Health Assessment, wherein "all learners shall undergo a mandatory health assessment during Brigada Eskwela and up to three weeks after the start of classes, to be conducted by the designated health personnel of the school in coordination with class advisers. The assessments include a general physical examination, as well as evaluations of all systems, vision and hearing screening, oral health examination, immunization status, and review of medical and family history. Schools may also perform catch-up activities during [One Health Week] in July, for any missed assessments during this period."
3 Under Implementing Guidelines, Item 5.e Vision and Ear Care Support for Learners, wherein "the [Bawat Bata Makababasa Program (BBMP)] shall ensure that learners with vision and hearing impairments are identified and receive the necessary support to facilitate their learning."
4 Item 3.e provides that the Brigada Eskwela is "supporting the physical and mental well-being of learners." This year's focus includes "creating a master list of learners along with a schedule for health assessments (e.g., nutritional assessment and vision and hearing screening) and assisting the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in the enrollment of learners to the National Health Insurance Program."
5 In compliance with DO 005 and 002, s. 2024, the "clinic teacher" previously identified as a member of the school TWG for OK sa DepEd is replaced in this memorandum by a "clinic focal" which shall pertain to nonteaching personnel who have been designated to coordinate school clinic activities/services.
6 Enclosure No. 2 to DepEd Order No. 12, s. 2015 indicates that the "Start of Mandatory Learners' Health Assessment" is on June 9, 2025, during the Brigada Eskwela. This specifically refers only to master listing, scheduling for assessments and services, and PhilHealth registration.
7 To continue all year round, as practicable
8 Nutritional assessment may commence earlier, depending on the capacity of the school, its partners, or the SDO concerned, and as necessary for the school to reach its timelines for the SBFP.
9 Done in a phased approach, depending on the capacity of the school, its partners, and the SDO concerned
10 Enclosure No. 2 to DepEd Order No. 12, s. 2015 indicates that the "End of Mandatory Learners' Health Assessment" is on July 4, 2025. This specifically refers to the scheduling of learners to ensure enough time for logistical preparations and coordination for the delivery of school-based health services for the learners, and for the nutritional assessment to ensure inclusion of target learner-beneficiaries in the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP). The conduct of all the other components of LHAS shall proceed during the school year, as scheduled during the Brigada Eskwela.
11 Done in a phased approach, depending on the capacity of the school, its partners, and the SDO concerned
12 In qualified schools only; schools, depending on their capacity, shall strategize the targeting of grade levels and scheduling of the screenings so that all target learners complete the annual screenings before the Year End Break.
13 As provided for in OUOPS Memorandum No. OM-OUOPS-2025-07-02351 or the Implementing Guidelines on the Allocation, Utilization, Documentation, and Reporting of Program Support Funds (PSF) for the Field Implementation of Learner Support Programs for Financial Year (FY) 2025
A full copy of DepEd Memorandum No. 050, s. 2025 below:
0 Comments