[WATCH] Angara: House bill making SHS optional offers ‘more pathways’ to students

MANILA, Philippines – Education Secretary Sonny Angara said that a House bill seeking to make senior high school (SHS) optional is on the “right track” as it would provide “more pathways” for students.

But he noted that the Department of Education (DepEd) should implement safeguards to prevent the measure — if it becomes law — from being abused by students who just want to skip SHS.

“The more pathways we have for our students, the better. So, ano lang, huwag lang maging butas siguro para pumasok doon ‘yung ayaw na mag-aral, ‘di ba? Lalabas na lang siya using that route. So, siguro, kailangan bantayan natin ‘yun. Pero definitely, in terms of giving more pathways, I think the thinking of the House there is on the right track,” Angara said in a Rappler Talk interview on Tuesday, February 18.

(The more pathways we have for our students, the better. So, it just shouldn’t become a loophole for those who don’t want to study, right? They might just take that route instead. So, I think we need to keep an eye on that. But definitely, in terms of giving more pathways, I think the thinking of the House there is on the right track.)

In January, House Bill No. 11213 was passed on second reading. The bill aims to provide students with “two educational pathways” to ease the burden of tuition on parents. It would allow “qualified students” to skip SHS and move directly to college or university, or enroll in a technical-vocational program.

Earlier, Angara announced that the DepEd will implement a “phased” rollout of the “decongested” K to 12 curriculum beginning school year 2025-2026. He said the department would reduce the core subjects for Grades 11 and 12 to just “five to seven important subjects,” from the current 15 per grade level.

Even before K to 12 was launched in 2012, many opposed the added two years of basic education. The program had been implemented despite a shortage of classrooms, textbooks, and furniture. Policymakers marketed K to 12 as a curriculum that would prepare graduates for tertiary education, skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship. (READ: INFOGRAPHIC: 10 things about K to 12)

Watch the excerpt in the video above, and the full episode below.

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A study by nonprofit organization Philippine Business for Education showed that only 20% of 70 leading companies across various sectors were inclined to hire SHS graduates. The study also noted that employers typically accepted only job applicants with at least two years of college education, excluding SHS graduates from consideration. – Rappler.com