MANILA, Philippines — Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to work together in aligning the senior high school (SHS) program with college requirements to fulfill the original intent of the K to 12 education system—reducing the number of years in higher education.

Gatchalian said that during the passage of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (Republic Act No. 10533), proponents assured that the additional two years in high school would lead to a shorter college education. However, he pointed out that this has not been the case.

“The entire system promised that when we move to K-12, college will be shortened so that the overall duration of schooling would not be extended by an additional two years,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

The Year Two Report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) raised concerns about SHS graduates’ readiness for higher education, highlighting low proficiency levels based on the below-proficient National Achievement Test (NAT) 2022 scores for Grade 12 students.

Due to these deficiencies, higher education institutions have been implementing bridging programs for SHS graduates. 

Gatchalian argued that these additional programs undermine the goal of reducing college years and called for their removal.

“Mahalagang pag-usapan at pag-isipan ito nang maigi ng DepEd at CHED. Pagsikapan nating mapababa ang bilang ng taon sa kolehiyo upang makapagtapos na sila agad at makapagtrabaho na sila agad,” Gatchalian added.