[OPINION] Eliminating senior high would be a national mistake
There has been a growing conundrum in the news, in policy circles, and even at kitchen tables about eliminating senior high school from the K-12 program. Senator Jinggoy Estrada proposed the move in Senate Bill No. 3001 to "rationalize the country's basic education system," arguing that it's a failed experiment, a burden on poor families, and a promise that was never delivered.
Of course, I understand. Eight years in, however, many students still can’t land jobs after SHS. The promise of “college-ready, job-ready, life-ready” feels more like a cruel joke than an educational north star. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: removing SHS won’t solve the problem. It will just bury it, I bet.
What we really need is not subtraction but reform. The decay we observe in SHS arises not from the idea itself but from its implementation: rushed, underfunded, and with little consideration for our socioeconomic realities.
Let’s be honest: From the start, the K-12 program was a lofty vision thrust into a flawed system. SHS was intended to bridge the gap between education and practical skills, and that’s not a bad idea. Before the program, our graduates were at a disadvantage in global job markets. In theory, providing students with two additional years to specialize in academic, technical-vocational, or arts and sports tracks should have been empowering. In practice, however, it turned into just two more years of underpaid teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and students cramming in subjects with questionable relevance.
So yes, the criticisms are valid. Many SHS graduates still can’t find jobs, either because companies don’t recognize their credentials or because their supposed “workplace readiness” is inadequate for actual labor demands. And what about college-bound students? They frequently retake the same subjects in university, which leads to burnout and financial strain.
But if the system is broken, the answer isn’t to break it further. Removing SHS is like burning down a house because the roof leaks. Why not repair the leak? Let’s discuss the real loopholes.
Curriculum mismatch. The Department of Education must overhaul the SHS curriculum to meet local and global labor market demands. Students in the technical-vocational track deserve modern training, industry immersion, and certifications that are genuinely recognized in the workforce.
Teacher support. SHS demands highly specialized instruction, but many teachers are undertrained, overworked, and underpaid. We expect them to perform miracles without providing the necessary support. Investing in teacher capacity through training, better pay, and job security is essential.
Equity and access. Let’s stop pretending that every Filipino family can afford two additional years of education. If we are serious about inclusive learning, the government must expand subsidies, increase scholarships, and ensure that SHS schools in rural areas are not ignored as an afterthought.
Employer engagement. SHS can only succeed if the private sector is engaged. The government must establish genuine partnerships with industries to make student internships valuable and ensure SHS credentials are recognized, not overlooked.
All of this requires time, political will, and funding. But here’s the thing: The cost of reform is still less than the cost of an uneducated, disillusioned youth sector.
We must also resist the nostalgia trap. There’s a romanticized notion that going back to a four-year high school will solve everything. But have we forgotten the chronic job mismatch, the unemployability of undertrained graduates, and the global disadvantage we once faced? Reverting to the old system might make us feel better, for a while, but it won’t move us forward.
We live in a nation of young people. Their futures are not Lego pieces that we can assemble and disassemble at will. What they need and what they deserve is not another political shortcut. They need a system that works, evolves, and holds itself accountable.
So no, scrapping SHS is not the solution. Fixing it is—because the worst thing we can do right now is send the message that when a reform fails, we abandon it, rather than putting in the hard work to make it right.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of PhilSTAR L!fe, its parent company and affiliates, or its staff.
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