CHED, DEPED URGED TO ENSURE NO STUDENT WOULD BE DISPLACED IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PHASE OUT

SENATOR Chiz Escudero on Wednesday called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to closely coordinate to ensure that no senior high school (SHS) students will be displaced with the discontinuation of the SHS program in state universities (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs).

The veteran legislator said that while the discontinuation of the SHS programs in SUCs and LUCs has legal basis and is aligned with the mandate of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), it is also important that no students will be left behind because of this latest development.

“Bagama’t legal ang hakbangin ng CHED, mahalaga pa rin na matiyak natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga estudyante sa senior high school. Walang dapat na maiwan at mahalaga rito na nag-uusap ang CHED at DepEd,” Escudero pointed out, noting that the SUCs and LUCs were only allowed to accommodate SHS during the transition period to the K-12 program.

Escudero, who chairs the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, also said the DepEd should closely monitor through its regional offices if there are students in danger of being displaced once the SUCs/LUCs should no longer offer the SHS program.

CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III has earlier confirmed that a memorandum dated December 18 has been issued, stating the “discontinuance” of the Senior High School (SHS) Program in SUCs/LUCs in line with CHED’s previous directives through CMO Nos. 32 and 33 series of 2015 and 2016.

In directing the HEIs to discontinue the SHS program, he said “there is no longer a legal basis to fund the same.”

De Vera stated that he was obliged to release the memorandum after discovering that “a number” of SUCs and LUCs were still accepting more senior high enrollees as of last year, which is two years after the transition period.

De Vera clarified that SUCs and LUCs were already reminded earlier to discontinue their senior high program and stop accepting more enrollees.

POE ON CHED MEMO ON SHS PROGRAM

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe said education authorities should sit down and firm up a plan for a seamless transition for senior high school (SHS) students affected by the discontinuation of the program in SUCs and LUCs.

She said there should be an assessment to know if public schools nationwide have the facilities and personnel to accept the expected influx of students.

“’Wag naman natin basta pabayaan na lang ang ating mga estudyante,” Poe said.

“Hindi sila dapat gumastos ng malaki sa tuition o mapwersang hindi na mag-aral dahil walang pangtustos ang pamilya,” she added.

According to Poe, the SHS program should hold its promise of employability and more competitive graduates, not as burden to Filipino learners.