( Part 2 )
A few weeks ago, I had written about senior high school (SHS) and what many of us, particularly the learners affected in such grade levels, could expect in the coming school year as SHS students undergo a transition or, better said, an adjustment to some notable changes.
Putting things in its proper perspective, and once again thanks to Rep. Roman Romulo, chairman of the committee on basic education and culture at the House of Representatives, who explained in detail the rationale behind the issue of SHS and its relationship with the Commission on Higher Education or CHED. While parents and students alike were concerned about the upcoming changes, Rep. Romulo diligently explained that only the agreement between the Department of Education (DepEd) and CHED was being dissolved; the agreement was instituted in 2015 due to the implementation of K-12 the following year.
As CHED in those days shouldered the SHS students in grades 11 and 12 while DepEd prepared the necessary number of classrooms and teachers needed, students accepted by CHED were given a voucher, considered a financial assistance program provided for the schools accepting these students.
To reiterate, this voucher system is all that has been lost and a compilation of finalized data was necessary to complete the story for SHS students who are part of the 2024-2025 academic year which begins in July.
As I updated myself further on this particular issue, I was pleased to receive some additional and valuable feedback from Rep. Romulo, who informed me that last Jan. 22, a committee meeting was held regarding the issue and the DepEd, through Undersecretary Michael Poa, informed the committee that the DepEd will now be providing vouchers for the current grade 11 students in state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges (SUCs and LUCs) who shall continue to grade 12 in the next academic year in the same SUC or LUC. DepEd will provide vouchers in order to ensure that these students will have the chance to complete their SHS requirements.
This being said, the 17,000+ students and their parents will no longer need to worry for as long as they complete SHS by the next academic year.
It must also be noted that after this current batch of students in grade 11, vouchers from the DepEd will no longer be given for SHS students in SUCs and LUCs.
Once again, I would like to thank the good congressman Roman Romulo for the updates on the issue of SHS as this prepares us, educators and advocates for education alike, to help inform parents and their children in SHS.
As we must know by now, SHS has become an integral part of our educational system as it helps learners develop the necessary skills that will prepare them for higher education or the work force, not to mention global preparedness as citizens of a multicultural and interconnected world.