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Pasig Representative Roman Romulo, head of the House education committee, has expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of the Philippines' K to 12 program. Despite nearly 13 years of implementation, Romulo argues that the program falls short of preparing graduates for promised job opportunities.

 

During a recent House hearing on the Department of Education's (DepEd) planned Strengthened Senior High School (SHS) Program for the 2025–2026 school year, Romulo highlighted that SHS graduates are not meeting industry expectations for "quality work." According to him, many industries still favour college graduates, leaving SHS graduates at a disadvantage in the job market.

 

Particularly concerning is the Technical-Vocation-Livelihood (TVL) track, where graduates receive a National Certificate Level 2 (NC2). This certification, Romulo explained, indicates that while graduates possess skills, they are still not equipped to work independently and require supervision. He noted that the certification level is equivalent to that offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), yet TESDA courses take between three to 12 months, whereas DepEd's program takes two years.

 

"Why does it take two years for DepEd to provide an NC2, when TESDA can issue one with just a few months of training?" Romulo questioned.

 

Additionally, Romulo raised concerns about SHS graduates' "college readiness." He pointed out that students are sometimes not eligible for certain college courses if they haven't pursued the appropriate high school track or strand. This may lead to additional bridging programs or, in some cases, result in denial of course admission.

 

Romulo criticized the government for effectively adding two more years to the educational system without ensuring that students have adequate college course options afterward. This raises a fundamental question about the goal of the K to 12 program and whether it truly meets its objectives in preparing students for higher education and the workforce.

 

The discussion underscores a need for an evaluation of the K to 12 curriculum and its alignment with both industry requirements and higher education standards, to better equip students for their future endeavors.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Manila Bulletin 2025-05-28

 

 

At least they learn English unlike Thailand.