Solon fears public schools lack classrooms to absorb SHS students

Students will bear the brunt of the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) memorandum discontinuing Senior High School (SHS) programs in state universities and colleges (SUCs), House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas said Wednesday.

"Mapipilitan ang mga estudyante na pumasok sa mga pribadong paaralan na mas mahal ang matrikula o kaya naman ay tumigil sa pag-aaral kung kulang na kulang pa rin ang pasilidad sa public schools," Brosas said in a statement.

(SHS students will be forced to turn to private schools which charge higher tuition and fees, or stop schooling if they cannot be accommodated in public schools because these lack facilities.)

"It's alarming that despite the substantial backlogs in classroom constructions, with only a meager 2,000 built in 2023 against a 159,000 backlog, private institutions seem to be favored, depriving countless youths of accessible education," the Gabriela party-list lawmaker added.

CHED has reiterated its decision to discontinue the SHS program in SUCs and local universities and colleges (LUCs). 

In a memorandum dated December 18, CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III said that the engagement of SUCs and LUCs in basic education through SHS shall only be limited to the K-12 transition period from School Year (SY) 2016-2017 to SY 2020-2021.

Department of Education Undersecretary Michael Poa said that displaced SHS learners may opt to enroll in private schools in the next school year and avail of the voucher program.

Brosas said CHED's memo discontinuing the SHS program in SUCs is "proof of K to 12 program's failure to provide quality and accessible education."

"Simula't sapul, tutol na ang mga estudyante at magulang sa K-12 program dahil dagdag gastos ito," she said.

(From the start, students and parents have been long opposed to this because this would only entail additional expenses.)

"Hindi rin totoo na tatanggapin agad sa trabaho ang mga nakapagtapos ng SHS dahil college graduates pa rin ang kinukuha ng mga kumpanya," she added.

(It's not true as well that SHS graduates easily get jobs because companies still favor college graduates.)

"The government's abrupt decision places an added burden on students and educators; and threatens the job security of SHS faculty and personnel within SUCs. This move appears reminiscent of the past: SUCs are stripped of their capacity, while private schools stand to gain financially," Brosas also said.

The lawmaker called on the Marcos administration to conduct a comprehensive K-12 review to ensure an approach that prioritizes both the students and the country's needs.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva earlier asked the DepEd and CHED to ensure proper coordination on the discontinuation of SHS program. —LDF, GMA Integrated News