House Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PPAB)

House Senior Deputy Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is proposing to replace the K to 12 education program with something that she calls K + 10 + 2.

Arroyo, Pampanga's 2nd district representative, goes into detail with her proposal in her measure, House Bill (HB) No.7893.

"This bill seeks to replace the present K to 12 education program in the country covering Kindergarten and 12 years of education with a K + 10 + 2 program covering compulsory Kindergarten and 10 years of basic education with, for those seeking to proceed to professional degree studies such as accounting, engineering, law, medicine, an additional two years of post-secondary, pre-university education," read then bill's explanatory note.

Then current K to 12 system was introduced by Arroyo's successor in Malacañang, the late former president Benigno S. Aquino III.

In HB No.7893, Arroyo recalled the justification for K to 12, which has its share of critics.

"Grades 11 and 12 were added to the country’s basic education program on the assumption that with the two additional years, senior high school (SHS) graduates should be able to immediately get a job, or put up their own business should they choose not to pursue college," she said.

"Unfortunately, the reality of the market seems to be that the private sector continues to prefer hiring college or university graduates over those who finish the K-to-12 program." noted the former president.

Arroyo cited a December 2020 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), which said that only one in five senior high school graduates enter the labor force, with the rest opting to continue with their education.

"Anecdotal evidence indicates that they opt to continue with their education upon realizing that the private sector prefers to hire college of university graduates," the House leader said.

She said the PIDS study further revealed that in the labor market, there is “no clear advantage nor disadvantage [among] SHS (senior high school) graduates compared to [Grade 10] or second year college completers".

Furthermore, Arroyo said, a 2022 Pulse Asia survey showed that a plurality of 44 percent of Filipinos said they were dissatisfied with the K to 12 system.

"The failure of the K to 12 program to provide its graduates with promised advantages exacerbates the additional burden on  parents and students imposed by two additional years of basic education," she said, citing a usual criticism on the current education system.

"In a country like the Philippines where the poverty incidence is 18 percent, there should be an option for the young to graduate from basic education soonest, after four years of high school, so that they can help their parents in their farms or micro-businesses," she said.

Arroyo went on to explain the "+ 2" in K + 10 + 2.

"If they want to go on to a professional education, that is when they can prepare themselves by having two years of post-secondary or pre-university education after high school to enhance their chances of succeeding in college or university and onward to professional licensure," she said.

"In the light of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly requested," she said.

The full title of HB No.7893 reads, "An Act amending Republic Act (RA) No.10533, entitled 'An Act enhancing the Philippine basic education system by strengthening its curriculum and increasing the number of years for basic education, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes.'"

If and when enacted, Section 4 of RA No.10533 or the K to 12 law will be revised to read as follows: "The enhanced basic education program encompasses at least one (1) year of kindergarten education, six (6) years of elementary education, and four (4) years of secondary education, in that sequence. Provided that, there shall be an additional two (2) years of post-secondary, pre-university education as preparation for professional degree studies."

"Secondary education refers to the third stage of compulsory basic education. It consists of four (4) years of high school education," the proposed revision further reads.

This amends the law's current definition of secondary education, which "refers to the third stage of compulsory basic education. It consists of four (4) years of junior high school education and two (2) years of senior high school education".

Arroyo served as Philippine president from 2001 to 2010.