#HumanRights #Teachers

During the public meeting of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Cong. Roman Romulo yesterday that tackled the discontinuation of Senior High School program in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) made the following clarifications and commitments:

1. Learners who are currently enrolled in Grade 11 may remain in the SHS program at LUCs and SUCs until the next school year, 2024-2025;
2. DepEd has assured that halting the program will not result in overcrowding in public schools for the academic year 20252026;
   According to CHED, SHS instructors and teachers at SUCs and LUCs will not lose their jobs;
3. The two agencies will also consider the proposed implementation of SHS as a feeder program or as a laboratory school in some SUCs and LUCs;
4. The continuation of the SHS program in LUCs operated by local government units that are willing and capable of providing funds for their program will also be considered.

Though limited, we regard this development as another victory. Our vigilance and early engagement in addition to public clamor resulted in this outcome. However, we reiterate our position that halting the existing program will worsen the overcrowding in our public schools, overburden our already overworked teachers, and lead to a further decline in the quality of education. And while we recognize the complementary roles of public and private sectors in delivering public education, we maintain our stance that education is a fundamental right of the citizens and an obligation of the state.

Therefore, the government subsidies through Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) should only be used in certain circumstances, let alone extreme necessities, and not as a regular program that could be susceptible to corruption such as the proliferation of fly-by-night schools of dubious quality and reputation. Lastly, we would like to challenge the government to meet the demands of the education system as a whole and prove its capacity to implement the K12 program with political will and sincerity. #

Reference:
Benjo Basas, TDC Chairperson, 0927 335 6375

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