Jinggoy seeks removal of SHS in basic education

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has filed a measure seeking to rationalize the basic education system in the country by removing the senior high school under the K to 12 program.
In his explanatory note for Senate Bill No. 3001, Estrada said that the SHS '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.
'We can't keep letting students and their parents shoulder the extra time and cost of senior high school. Bakit natin hahayaan na patuloy na maging dagdag pasanin sa oras at gastusin ang dalawang taon sa high school level?' Estrada said in a statement.
(Why should we continue allowing the additional two years in high school to be an extra burden to the time and expenses of the students and parents?)
Under the proposed measure, 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.
'This bill is a practical step to fix our basic education system – make it more efficient, use resources better, and give students a more meaningful learning experience,' Estrada added.
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.
The revised SHS curriculum, which underwent extensive review and consultation from education stakeholders, will also be piloted in School Year 2025-2026. There are 841 schools set to participate in the pilot run.
One of the key features of the new curriculum is the reduction of core subjects from the 15 being offered per semester, to just five that will be offered for a full year in Grade 11.
These five new subjects are: Effective Communication (Mabisang Komunikasyon), Life Skills, General Mathematics, General Science, and Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino.
All subjects that are no longer part of the core will already be called 'electives,' instead of applied and specialized subjects. The new subjects or electives are also updated and grouped under the Academic and TechPro clusters.
Under the new curriculum, students will also be allowed to take up any subject from any of the clusters of subjects offered by their school. The learners may also avail of a 'doorway option' wherein they will take subjects from the other strand. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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