MANILA, Philippines – PINABULAANAN ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) ang napaulat na inalis na ang senior high school (SHS) program, kasunod ng pagpapalabas ng memorandum na inaatasan ang state at local universities and colleges na itigil na ang programa.
Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III na walang kapangyarihan at wala sa hurisdiksyon ng CHED na wakasan o tuldukan ang SHS program.
Pinaaalalahanan lamang nito ang SUCs at LUCs na itigil na ang programa dahil wala itong legal na basehan na ipagpatuloy pa na tumanggap ng SHS students lalo pa’t nagtapos na ang K-12 transition period.
“I was surprised by the fake news and insinuations that have been circulating, so I’d like to make clear — K to 12 is not abolished and CHED has no authority to abolish senior high. Because I’ve been getting reports complaining that I have abolished senior high school. That’s not within the jurisdiction of CHED,” ayon kay De Vera.
Aniya, marami nang SUCs at LUCs ang itinigil na ang implementasyon ng SHS program sa nakalipas na tatlong taon.
Gayunman, inamin nito na may ilang SUCs ang pabor na tanggapin pa rin ang mga SHS student dahil ang SHS program ay nagsisilbi bilang “feeder program” para sa kanilang specialization.
“For example, our maritime schools want to experiment with the senior high curriculum that goes into the maritime education. Our engineering schools want STEM programs so that it becomes a feeder program for their courses,” ayon kay De Vera.
Subalit, dahil nagwakas na ang K-12 transition period at ang enrollment sa SUCs ay tumaas, sinabi ni De Vera na kailangan ng mga SUCs na ito na maglaan ng mga pasilidad at mga guro para sa mga estudyante na kukuha ng higher education courses.
“There is a balancing act that has to be one in terms of accepting and being able to provide senior high. So I hope there is no impression na parang nagdadamot ang mga state universities and colleges na ayaw nila tanggapin,” ang tinuran ni De Vera.
Para naman sa Department of Education (DepEd), ang mga apektadong SHS students ay mayroong dalawang opsyon. Isa na rito ay mag-enroll sa public schools na nag-aalok ng basic education, o mag-enroll sa private schools at kumuha ng voucher program.
“This developed as DepEd issued a notice insisting that there should be no more Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GATSPE) beneficiaries from the SUCs and LUCs starting SY 2023-2024, except those who will be entering Grade 12,” ayon sa ulat. Kris Jose
