Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has expressed his unwavering support for the K to 12 (K-12) program, standing firm against calls for its abolition.
As one of the original authors of the law, Angara emphasized that the agency’s priority is not to discard the system, but to refine it to meet global standards and industry needs.
The official made the statement in an interview during the opening of the National Festival of Talents (NFOT) 2026 in Roxas City, Capiz, on Sunday, April 19.
According to Angara, the program, which adds two more years to the country’s basic education cycle, remains a vital part of the country’s educational framework, despite the challenges it has faced since its implementation.
“Yes yes, batas ko yun eh. Hindi man namin basta-basta itigil ung K-12,” the DepEd secretary asserted.
Angara highlighted that the current administration is focused on optimization.
“The instruction to us from President Marcos is to improve it, make it less crowded, and ensure there aren’t too many subjects because that prevents the children from learning effectively,” he said.
Rather than entertaining the idea of abolition, Angara is leading a strategic shift toward “decongesting” the curriculum.
The secretary addressed long-standing concerns from students and teachers alike regarding the heavy workload, which many argue leads to burnout rather than mastery.
By streamlining the curriculum, the education department aims to prioritize core subjects like literacy, science, and mathematics. This approach is intended to ensure that students gain a deeper understanding of fundamental concepts before moving on to specialized tracks.
A key pillar of Angara’s commitment is ensuring that the program fulfills its original promise of employability for Senior High School (SHS) graduates. He acknowledged the industry gap where many graduates still struggle to find immediate employment.
“Second, when a student graduates from senior high school, this should be their chance to get a job because they should already possess the skills that the industry and offices are looking for,” the secretary said.
To resolve this, DepEd is intensifying its collaboration with the private sector and various industries to align the SHS technical-vocational tracks with actual workforce demands.IMT
