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Group welcomes extension of SHS program in gov’t-run HEI but calls it ‘partial victory’
Group welcomes extension of SHS program in gov’t-run HEI but calls it ‘partial victory’
While it acknowledged the assurance of education agencies on the continuation of the Senior High School (SHS) in public universities and colleges, a group of teachers on Tuesday, Jan. 16, warned of the consequences of halting the existing program.
“Though limited, we regard this development as another victory,” said Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) National Chairman Benjo Basas in a statement.
He noted that “our vigilance and early engagement in addition to public clamor resulted in this outcome.”
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https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/2/ched-confirms-discontinuation-of-shs-program-in-su-cs-lu-cs
DepEd on Jan. 16 announced the extension of the SHSVP for Grade 11 students currently enrolled in SUCs and LUCs for SY 2023-2024.
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During the public meeting of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Rep. Roman Romulo on Jan. 15, TDC shared that the discontinuation of the SHS program in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) was discussed.
Representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) were also present.
TDC said that DepEd and CHED officials expressed commitment that learners who are currently enrolled in Grade 11 may remain in the SHS program at LUCs and SUCs until the next school year (SY) 2024-2025.
DepEd, TDC said, has also assured that “halting the program will not result in overcrowding” in public schools for the academic year 2025-2026.
CHED, for its part, said that SHS instructors and teachers at SUCs and LUCs “will not lose their jobs.”
TDC said 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.
Moreover, TDC said that DepEd and CHED noted 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.”
Impact of removing SHS in public HEIs
Despite the development, TDC expressed concern about the possible impact of removing the SHS program in public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
“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,” Basas said.
TDC noted that while it recognizes 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.”
Given this, TDC stressed that 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.”
TDC also challenged the government to “meet the demands” of the education system as a whole and prove its capacity to implement the K to 12 program with “political will and sincerity.”
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