Commissioned survey: 4 out of 10 Filipinos unsatisfied with senior high school

A Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senator Win Gatchalian showed that only 4 out of 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the country's senior high school program.

The survey, conducted from June 19 to 23, 2023, showed that 41% of the 1,200 respondents nationwide said they are satisfied with senior high school. Those who are dissatisfied are 42%, while 16% cannot say if they are satisfied or dissatisfied.

Gatchalian said that the dissatisfaction with the senior high school program may be attributed to its failure to deliver on its promise to make its graduates college-ready and work-ready.

“Nagdagdag tayo ng dalawang taon sa high school pero para sa ating mga magulang, dagdag na gastos lang ang dulot nito," said Gatchalian who is also the chair of the Senate committee on basic education.

"Hindi kuntento ang ating mga kababayan sa senior high school dahil hindi nila makita ang benepisyo ng programang ito,” added Gatchalian. 

According to the survey, the dissatisfaction with the senior high school program is higher among Classes D (44%) and E (44%). Only 38% and 42% from Classes and E, respectively, are satisfied with senior high school. Among classes ABC, 57% are satisfied with senior high school, while 27% are dissatisfied.

The survey also showed that dissatisfaction is highest in the National Capital Region (NCR), where 53% of respondents said they are dissatisfied with senior high school while only 31% said they are satisfied.

More respondents in Luzon are satisfied (43%) than dissatisfied (35%) with senior high school. In the Visayas, those who are satisfied and dissatisfied with the program are tied at 42%. Almost half (49%) of respondents in Mindanao are dissatisfied with senior high school, while 42% are satisfied.

Gatchalian also mentioned the 2020 discussion paper by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) which showed that  only a little over 20% of senior high school graduates enter the labor force, while more than 70% continue with their education.

Back in April Gatchalian presented a tracer study that found that senior high school graduates encounter challenges such as difficulty of the subjects, non-crediting of SHS subjects, and rejection from the degree program in pursuing higher education.

“Sometimes the interest of the SHS is not in their area and they are forced to take something that is available there but the problem is when they move to college, whatever they took in senior high school is not accepted or not credited,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian has already filed Senate Bill No. 2022 or "Batang Magaling Act"  which seeks to address the mismatch between the skills of senior high school graduates and the demands of the labor market. It also aims to strengthen the collaboration among the Department of Education (DepEd), local government units, the academic communities, and industry partners. —VAL, GMA Integrated News