Senator Jinggoy Estrada has filed a bill removing Senior High School (SHS) from the K to 12 program and instead replacing it with one year of kindergarten, six years at the elementary level and four years of high school.
The senator cited the congested curriculum, overworked teachers and students, and low employment rate of SHS graduates.
On the other hand, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian disclosed there is massive dissatisfaction with the SHS implementation as parents have to shell out additional money for the extra two years of high school when their dream is for every child to graduate from college.
This development occurred as DepEd is set to implement a strengthened SHS program to be piloted this coming school year.
From 15 subjects, the SHS program will be reduced to five core subjects.
However, DepEd admits the five subjects will not be enough, SHS students will have to take elective subjects to ensure their readiness to enter college.
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In the years since the SHS implementation, the readiness of SHS graduates to enter college has been called into question right at the Catanduanes State University.
A professor of the College of Engineering recalls that even those who passed the entrance exam still found it difficult to pass higher math subjects like Integral Calculus. This indicates, he said, that their mathematics foundation in SHS was not enough.
The problem with SHS is that while the two years of extra high school is supposed to tackle the subjects covering the first two years of college, the learning atmosphere remains that of a high school where there is lack of seriousness to really learn the basics.
It does not compare with entering college right from four years of high school: one has to really spend the night studying or else he gets a failing grade and a scolding from his parents.
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At CatSU, the last batch of SHS graduates had their completion ceremony last week, after parents failed to convince management to continue the program.
The Grade 10 completers have now enrolled at CNHS, ICSA and Calatagan High School while a few transferred to Naga City and Metro Manila.
The SHS’ discontinuance will result in the displacement of at least three contract-of-service teachers, with the bigger impact on the transferees who could be in for a tough adjustment to a new environment.
It may be recalled that in 2023, the Commission on Higher Education directed State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to discontinue SHS but left the door open for SUCs and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) with laboratory schools to continue the program subject to the approval of their respective board of regents or trustees.
DepEd had already notified SUCs that it will no longer vouchers to SHS enrollees in SUCs, with CHED subsequently reminding the latter that there was no longer a legal basis to fund the SHS program.
In previous years, expenses for SHS activities were charged to the P2,500 enhancement fee paid by parents.
The fee was ordered removed by then Pres. Patrick Alain Azanza as basic education is supposed to be free.
Last year, the wages of the hired teachers were charged to the remaining balance of the vouchers from DepEd.
While parents of learners enrolled at CatSU and even the laboratory schools management prefer the retention of SHS, the issue of funding has to be addressed.
If the BOR or BOT agrees, it will have to add the SHS funding requirement to the budget for the laboratory schools.
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AN EMBARASSMENT. A Saudi royal is attending college in England.
“Dad, I feel odd driving my Lamborghini to school when all my classmates ride the train,” he texts his father.
His father responds, “I’ve transferred $500 million dollars into your account, son. Buy a train and quit embarrassing this family.”
“A professor of the College of Engineering recalls that even those who passed the entrance exam still found it difficult to pass higher math subjects like Integral Calculus. This indicates, he said, that their mathematics foundation in SHS was not enough.”
“A professor of the College of Engineering recalls that even those who passed the entrance exam still found it difficult to pass higher math subjects like Integral Calculus. This indicates, he said, that their mathematics foundation in SHS was not enough.” May I have the name of the Engineer? For research purposes only