Abolish SHS? Angara says up to Congress to decide
This, as Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada filed a measure seeking to rationalize the basic education system in the country by removing the SHS, citing reason that it 'still has not fully achieved its goal' to produce skilled and job-ready graduates 12 years after the enactment of Republic Act No. 10533, also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
Angara, who served as senator before being appointed as chief of the Department of Education (DepEd), pointed out that the agency is set to implement changes in the SHS this incoming School Year 2025-2026, through the pilot run of the revised SHS curriculum.
'Hindi maganda ang naging implementation nitong nakaraang dekada. Masyadong marami ang subjects at nakahon masyado ang mga bata. Hindi sila nakakapili ng subject/s,' Angara said in a statement.
(The SHS' implementation in the last decade has not been good. There were too many subjects and the learners were constrained. They were not able to choose subject/s.)
'Having said that, ang desisyon kung ipagpapatuloy ang SHS o hindi ay Kongreso lamang po ang makakapagsabi at makakapag-pasya,' he added.
(Having said that, the decision whether or not to continue SHS is up to the Congress to say and decide on.)
The incoming academic year will run from June 16, 2025, and end on March 31, 2026, marking a return to the pre-pandemic school calendar.
There are 841 schools set to participate in the pilot run of the revised SHS curriculum, which underwent extensive review and consultation from education stakeholders, in School Year 2025-2026.
Based on the initial results of the pilot, the Education Department will announce if all senior high schools will subsequently be required to implement the new curriculum by SY 2026-2027.
'Shorten college education'
For Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, the proposal to streamline general education subjects must also fulfill the promise made with the K-12 program—that additional years in high school would shorten college education.
'While policy decisions rest with the DepEd and CHED, college curricula must avoid duplication so students can focus on their specialization and graduate in less than four years,' Gatchalian said.
'They should not bear the burden of extra semesters simply because the original intent of the K-12 reform—made 12 years ago—has yet to be fully realized,' he continued.
Under Senate Bill No. 3001, Estrada seeks to retain the fundamental principles of RA 10533, sans the SHS level, in a bid 'to simplify the high school system while still making sure students get quality education that meets global standards.'
He recommended a one-year kindergarten education, followed by six years of elementary education, and four years of secondary education. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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