Angara: K-12 streamlined not scrapped

Local

INSTEAD of scrapping senior high school program, the Department of Education is cutting through the clutter.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the revised K to 12 curriculum is already being piloted in hundreds of schools nationwide, defending the agency’s move to simplify the program amid calls from some lawmakers for its abolition.

Angara made the remarks in response to a question by a high school teacher during an information conference at Don Gerardo LL Ouano Memorial National High School on Monday, August 18, where he also inspected classrooms and facilities with local officials. He was joined by DepEd Central Visayas Director Salustiano Jimenez, Mayor Jonkie Ouano, and Congresswoman Lolypop Ouano-Dizon.

The secretary explained that the overhaul focuses on streamlining senior high school, reducing the 33 subjects previously taken in two years into just five core areas: life skills, reading, communications, mathematics, and science.

These were identified as priorities after consultations with higher education institutions to ensure smoother crediting from senior high school to college.

“So far, the feedback is good. Very simple. We need children to have more time to work. And at that stage, they are independent learners,” Angara said.

He added that the rigid track system is being removed, allowing students to choose subjects across Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), business, arts, or technical-vocational courses.

DepEd is also expanding on-the-job training from 80–300 hours to up to 640 hours to address employers’ concerns about graduates’ work readiness.

Angara said the reforms aim to give learners more opportunities to develop skills while ensuring senior high graduates can either proceed to higher education or improve employment prospects.

Meanwhile, Cebu 4th District Representative Sun Shimura renewed calls to abolish senior high school, filing a bill to revert to the old 10-year basic education cycle.

Shimura argued that the additional two years have not delivered better learning outcomes.

“Adding more years to basic education hasn't necessarily translated into better learning outcomes,” Shimura said, noting that many companies still prefer college graduates and even government hiring rarely favors senior high school graduates.

He warned that the current system worsens unemployment as the labor market cannot absorb the growing number of graduates.

The K to 12 Basic Education Program, institutionalized through Republic Act 10533 in 2013 under President Benigno Aquino III, extended basic education from 10 to 12 years to align with global standards.

It made kindergarten compulsory and added Grades 11 and 12 to better prepare students for higher education, work, or entrepreneurship.

The phased rollout began in 2012, with the first senior high school graduates in 2018.

Since its implementation, K to 12 has faced criticism over classroom shortages, lack of learning materials, and additional financial burdens on families.

Questions have also arisen about the employability of graduates who do not pursue college.(MyTVCebu)