Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has proposed scrapping mandatory Senior High School (SHS) under the K to 12 program, saying it has failed to deliver on its promises.
“Ever since this education reform was put in place, it has been met with criticisms and objections from various groups. It has been 12 years now since the enactment of the law, yet it still has not fully achieved its goal,” Estrada said, referring to Republic Act No. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
“We can’t keep letting students and their parents shoulder the extra time and cost of senior high school. Bakit natin hahayaan na patuloy na maging dagdag pasanin sa oras at gastusin ang dalawang taon sa high school level?” he added.
SHS was introduced to align the Philippine education system with global standards and serve as a bridge between high school and college. It aimed to produce graduates equipped with 21st-century skills, ready for college, work, or entrepreneurship.
Estrada filed Senate Bill No. 3001 to amend the law, citing DepEd’s own admission that SHS has fallen short of expectations. Issues include an overloaded curriculum, overworked teachers and students, and a low employment rate—only 10% of SHS graduates enter the workforce, mostly in informal jobs.
A Pulse Asia survey in March 2025 showed just 33% of respondents were satisfied with the program, while 40% were dissatisfied. Approval ratings have steadily declined—from 41% in 2023, to 35% in 2024, and 33% in 2025.
Estrada’s proposal retains the core principles of RA 10533 but removes SHS. The goal is to simplify the system while maintaining global-quality education.
Under the revised structure, he recommends one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary, and four years of high school.
“This bill is a practical step to fix our basic education system – make it more efficient, use resources better, and give students a more meaningful learning experience,” said Estrada.IMT
