Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has expressed his intent to file a bill that would reduce the number of years required in college, citing the need to shift foundational learning—such as critical thinking and communication—into senior high school.
The proposal aims to streamline college programs by removing subjects that overlap with what should already be taught in Grades 11 and 12. “We should also prioritize the teaching of soft skills to our SHS learners, including critical thinking, communication, problem solving, socio-emotional skills, creativity, and collaboration, among others,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
His remarks followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s admission that the K-12 program, launched in 2012, has not delivered on its promise of improving employability. While the President left the decision to amend or scrap the law up to Congress, Gatchalian stressed the government’s obligation to follow through with its commitment to shorten college duration after extending basic education.
Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel argued that the entire K-12 system should now be abolished, a call that has sparked concern among stakeholders in the education sector.
The Department of Education has already started piloting a revised senior high curriculum in over 800 schools nationwide. Under this new format, core subjects have been trimmed to five, including Effective Communication, Life and Career Skills, General Mathematics, General Science, and Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino.
Gatchalian believes that embedding general education courses and life skills in senior high school would not only avoid unnecessary duplication in college but also allow students to focus earlier on their chosen fields.
