Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed the measure seeking to shorten the years of college education to three, citing the need to fulfill this promise to parents after the enactment into law of the K to 12 program.

Gatchalian filed the Three-year College Education (3CE) Act, which seeks to authorize the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in allowing flexibility for degree programs to be completed in a span of three academic years.

The measure is one of the first 10 priority measures that the senator filed for the opening of the 20th Congress.

Passage of the bill into law would reduce the college education from four years to three years.

“Noong nagdagdag tayo ng dalawang taon sa high school, ipinangako natin sa ating mga kababayan na iikli ang panahong kailangang ilaan sa kolehiyo (When we added two years in high school, we promised constituents we will shorten the time for college),” Gatchalian said.

“Panahon na upang tuparin natin ang pangakong ito (It’s time to fulfill this promise),” he stressed.

The senator pointed out such mechanism is done even in other countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and Australia when a child enters college.

According to the senator, the general subjects will be taught in senior high to enable the student to focus on subjects related to his college degree.

The duration of programs, however, should still be based on assessed industry needs, international standards, or benchmarks, and recognized best practices, according to the senator.

Under the measure, all General Education (GE) courses shall be integrated and completed at the senior high school level to ensure students’ college readiness and provide more time for internship and advanced specialization.

Gatchalian cited findings by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which revealed that college programs in the Philippines are GE-heavy and internship-light.