UP defers vote on revision in general education program

MANILA, Philippines – The University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman in Quezon City has deferred voting on the proposed revision of its general education program.

UP Sagip GE, a group of faculty and students opposing the proposed shorter GE program, said the university council on Monday decided to convene a committee to review the current system as a prerequisite to any changes.

Implemented in 2012, the university’s GE program currently has 45 units.

A proposal was made to lower the current number to 21 units starting 2018, when the first batch of K to 12 graduates enters the university.

“A review of the existing GE must be undertaken in order to arrive at an informed decision on its strengths and limitations,” UP Sagip GE said in a statement.

“The results of the vote adhere to sound decision-making process befitting a university. A thorough review of the hybrid GE is necessary before any changes should be made. This indicates several possibilities including the retention of the existing 45 units of GE,” UP Sagip added.

Earlier, UP Sagip GE said it would be a setback for the university if it approves the resolution that would set the minimum number of required GE units at 21.

“If this resolution is approved, this will be the greatest setback for GE in the history of UP. The result will be the shortest GE program in the whole UP system and in the whole country,” the group said.

“The GE subjects and majors subjects form an integrative whole and should not be separated from each other. Universities like National University of Singapore and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology boast of the great importance they give to GE in the holistic development of the potentials of their students,” the group added.

The group maintained that UP students need a rich and intensive GE program as the standardization of curricula and syllabi on an international level creates an even greater need for deepening the national context of subjects on history, society, culture, arts and languages.