The House of Representatives passed the second reading of a bill proposing amendments to the K-12 program, allowing students to choose from two academic paths after they graduate from Grade 10.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, House Bill 11213, also known as the proposed Education Pathways Act, was passed through viva voce (voice) voting.
The proposal suggests offering students who complete junior high the option to choose between a two-year University Preparatory Program, for those planning to pursue higher education, or a Technical-Vocational Program.
The bill also includes a voluntary advanced placement exam for Grade 10 students. If they pass, they would be eligible to enroll directly in their chosen college degree program the following school year, without needing to complete Grades 11 and 12 under the University Preparatory Program.
“We will graduate students at Grade 10. Those who wish to pursue university or college, will have to go through Grades 11 and 12. But Grades 11 and 12 will no longer have strands or tracks. All the mandatory subjects will all be the general subjects in first year college. So that the student, who wishes to pursue his college degree will already be able to get advanced placement examinations and credit those subjects, and hopefully reduce the number of years in college by one year or at least one semester,” House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chairperson and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo explained.
He further explained that there would be an honors exam in Grade 10, and students who pass would be able to accelerate to college, exempt from completing Grades 11 and 12.
“For those who wish to use the tech-voc track, 30% of Filipinos right now use the tech-voc track. We will ask that they be under the TESDA, but with an industry driven curriculum, meaning it is enterprise-based immediately,” Romulo noted.
Supporters of the bill argue that the K-12 program has failed to produce “job-ready” graduates. Additionally, some parents have voiced concerns about the added costs of the two extra years of education required under the current curriculum.
“The reality of the job the market has not aligned with these expectations… Many senior high school graduates face challenges in finding employment, as the private sector continue to favor students and graduates of colleges and universities, over those who have solely completed the K-12 program,” Romulo said.
“We’ve learned now from the many years that it’s been carried out about all of the failings of the implementation,” Pampanga 2nd District Representative and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said.