Villanueva calls for proper transition on discontinuation of senior high school programs in SUCs

Senator Joel Villanueva asked the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to ensure proper coordination regarding the discontinuation of senior high school (SHS) programs in local and state universities and colleges.

In a statement, the Majority Floor Leader and Head of the Senate Committee on Rules said this should be in line with the mandate of the higher educational institutions (HEIs).

“While they were allowed to provide SHS during the transition period, we agree that it is not the role of HEIs to offer basic education, except for those with laboratory schools,” said Villanueva.

The senator called on the agencies to manage the transition carefully and to consider how the changes would have on the affected students.

“Ensure that there will be no disruption in the education of our students and that there is sufficient DepEd or private sector capacity to take it on,” he said.

The CHED order, issued on December 18, limited the involvement of local and state universities and colleges up to the school year of 2020 to 2021 only.

“There should be no more Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) beneficiaries from SUCs/LUCs, except those who will be entering Grade 12 in SY 2023-2024 to finish their basic education and that SUCs and LUCs with laboratory school can accept enrolees but will no longer receive vouchers,” read the CHED memorandum.

The memorandum also mandated laboratory schools to limit their SHS enrollees to 750 students.—RF, GMA Integrated News