false>false>Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he will file a bill that would shorten college education and rationalizing the senior high school (SHS) program.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian

false>false>Gatchalian said it is high-time Congress pushes through with its promise of reducing the number of college years after passing the K to 12 program which added two years in senior high school.

false>false>“When the 20th Congress opens, I intend to file a bill that will shorten college education depending on the program,” Gatchalian said. mso-spacerun:yes> 

false>false>“Kailangang tuparin natin ang pangakong mababawasan ang taon sa kolehiyo kasunod ng pagdagdag ng dalawang taon sa high school (We must fulfill the promise of reducing the number of years in college following the addition of two years in high school),” the senator said.

false>false>In an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel (BNC), Gatchalian said there is now evidence that tertiary education can be reformed and shortened by as much as two-and-a-half years to three years “depending on the course that you are taking.”

false>false>“And that’s something beneficial to our parents,” he said, citing the research presented to the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2.

false>false>Likewise, the lawmaker said he will propose rationalizing and bringing down the General Education subjects in college to senior high school.

false>false>“I (will) propose rationalizing and bringing down General Education courses to senior high school (SHS). This will eliminate the duplication of courses and help students focus on their specialization,” he said.

false>false>Moreover, he said he sees the need to prioritize the teaching of soft skills to SHS learners.

false>false>This includes, he said, “critical thinking, communication, problem solving, socio-emotional skills, creativity, and collaboration, among others.”