Groups to hold talks with CHED over SHS policy

MANILA, Philippines — The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC), together with other education advocate groups, will have a dialogue with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) this week to discuss contingency plans for more than 17,000 students who will be affected by the discontinuation of the senior high school (SHS) programs in state and local universities and colleges (SUCs and LUCs) starting School Year (SY) 2024 – 2025.

“While the Department of Education is saying that they have enough schools to accommodate these students, we think 17,000 is a significant number,” TDC chairman Benjo Basas said over radio iFM Dagupan yesterday.

The TDC and student group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) have earlier raised concerns on the looming displacement of around 17,700 Grade 11 students currently enrolled in SUCs and LUCs.

“Of course this will have an effect on the lives of our students and their parents. Now they have to find another school, they have to transfer to another school to finish their senior high school. They, who chose to study in SUCs or LUCs for whatever reason – accessibility, quality of education – can no longer re-enroll next school year in their school of choice,” Basas said.

In his memorandum dated Dec. 18, 2023, CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera II said the authority of SUCs and LUCs to engage in basic education through the SHS program has already lapsed after SYs 2016-2017 to 2020-2021, the supposed transition period for the country’s shift to the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) education system.

Furthermore, De Vera said, the DepEd has already issued a notice that there will no longer be any government assistance or vouchers for students who moved to SUCs and LUCs for the SHS program “except for those entering Grade 12 in SY 2023-2024 to finish their basic education.”

The DepEd later confirmed the said notice, which is contained in its Department Order No. 2023-020 issued on July 26, 2023 or just a month before the start of the current SY 2023 to 2024.

Congress to intervene

Basas said that while the TDC understands the position of CHED, their group will still push for the extension of SHS programs in SUCs and LUCs by urging Congress to intervene through legislation.

“Our specific call is to allow the extension of the [SHS] programs in the SUCs and LUCs, but it looks like policy legislation is needed for this. Because CHED does not have the power to extend the transition period or the [SHS] program,” Basas said in Filipino.

“So, I think the ball is now in the hands of Congress. Furthermore, the Congress should also take a serious look not only about this SUCs and LUCs issue, but on the implementation of the K-12 as a whole. Where are we heading with the K-12 program since the start of its implementation?” Basas added.

Basas reiterated the TDC’s earlier position that there has to be an overhaul or recalibration of the implementation of the K-12 program.

“If we are to assess its implementation, it is clear to see that the K-12 program failed to achieve its goals, with or without this issue on the SUCs and LUCs,” Basas said.

“The three main goals of the K-12 program – to produce graduates that are ready for employment, to produce graduates that are globally competitive and to produce graduates that are ready for college education – these goals were not realized. It only means that we need to reassess the implementation, what do we need to improve on? That’s our position on the K-12 program,” Basas added.