5 years in college proposal questioned

A teachers’ group has expressed doubt that adding another year in college or imposing mandatory five years of college will raise the quality of Filipino graduates.

Antonio Tinio, national chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, said the government first has to explain the rationale behind a proposal of the Presidential Task Force on Education (PTFE) to implement a mandatory five-year college in its goal to reform the country’s education system.

“The rationale for adding another year in college is not clear,” Tinio noted.

He said the move to increase the basic education curriculum (BEC) up to ten years was even more understandable, considering that the norm in other countries all over the world was a minimum 12 years of BEC.

“The concept for a minimum four-year college course is universal. And the rationale for proposals to implement a 12-year BEC is clear,” Tinio said.

Tinio said that the PTFE should present their case justifying another year in college and prove that this will improve the competency of Filipino students.  – Rainier Allan Ronda