A House leader remains unconvinced by the effectiveness of the K to 12 program, which is being implemented for nearly 13 years already, as graduates remain unqualified for job opportunities as earlier promised.
Solon: 'K-12 graduates still not job or college-ready'
Published May 28, 2025 02:13 pm
At A Glance
- A House leader remains unconvinced by the effectiveness of the K to 12 program, which is being implemented for nearly 13 years already, as graduates remain unqualified for job opportunities as earlier promised.
Pasig lone district Rep. Roman Romulo, who chairs the House education committee, said graduates of the K to 12 program were still "not job ready for quality work" based on the industries themselves.
He says industries "prefer a college graduate"-- which effectively disqualifies Senior High School (SHS) graduates who are applying for jobs.
Also, Romulo said graduates of Technical-Vocation-Livelihood (TVL) track were only given National Certificate Level 2 (NC2).
"NC2 means you have skills, but 'di ka pa pwedeng mag-isa. Kailangan may guidance pa sayo (But you can not still work on your own. You still need a guidance)," he said during the House hearing on the Department of Education (DepEd)'s planned implementation of the Strengthened Senior High School (SHS) Program for School Year (SY) 2025 – 2026.
Romulo said the level of certification being given to graduates of TVL track was also the same that was being given to graduates of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) courses.
Learners need to study for two years under DepEd's K to 12 program, while TESDA learners only need at least three to 12 months to secure such certification.
"Meron silang (They have) similar courses that they give in their own schools or in community TESDA schools, na nakakabigay sila ng (that issue) NC2 for three months, six months or one year of training," Romulo said.
"Eh bakit sa DepEd, kailangan ng two years, tapos NC2 lang (But for DepEd, it takes two years to study, and yet it can only issue NC2)?" he asked.
Meanwhile, Romulo also found that SHS graduates are also not up to par when it comes to "college-readiness".
"Merong mga colleges and universities that would take a look... ano yung strand o track na kinuha mo (There are colleges and universities that would take a look which strand or track you took)," he said.
"Kung hindi ka kumuha ng tamang strand, o tamang track, may bridging program, o magdagdag sila. Or worse, hindi ka nila papayagan doon sa course na 'yun (If you did not take the right strand or track, there would be a bridging program. Or worse, you wouldn't be allowed to take the course)," he added.
Romulo said that the government was essentially adding two more years to students "just to tell them that they have limited options for college courses".