The proposal to remove the Senior High School (SHS) program from the Philippine education system is “untimely” and “dangerously shortsighted,” Catholic educators warned on Wednesday, July 9.
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education (CBCP-ECCED) voiced their strong opposition in a joint statement.
A copy of the statement was furnished to DIGICAST NEGROS by Br. Joaquin Severino Martinez, president of the University of Saint La Salle in Bacolod City.
The two organizations emphasized that the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, which introduced SHS, was a “hard-won reform” that resulted from years of “national dialog, intersectoral consultation, research, and legislative action.”
“It addressed long-standing gaps in college and work readiness, and finally aligned the Philippines with ASEAN and global education frameworks,” they asserted.
Launched in 2016, the SHS program was described as “not an accident of policy but a product of vision: one that sought to raise our education system to meet international benchmarks and respond to the evolving needs of Filipino learners and the labor market.”
PROPOSING SOLUTIONS
While acknowledging concerns about perceived redundancy and the financial burden on families, the Catholic educators argued that instead of scrapping the program, the government should expand and strengthen the SHS Voucher Program.
This would ensure “no learner is left behind, particularly in underserved and marginalized communities”, they said.
They highlighted the “principle of public-private complementarity,” stressing that public and private schools should be seen as “partners in delivering quality education to young Filipinos, not competitors.”
Currently, over 1.2 million students benefit from government-funded vouchers enabling them to study in private SHS institutions. These partnerships are crucial in rural and hard-to-reach areas, as they “fill gaps in access, relieve pressure on overcrowded public schools, and bring educational opportunities closer to communities”, the Catholic educators said.
ADDRESSING FLAWS
On doubts about SHS graduates’ employment readiness, the educators recommended deepening partnerships with industry, aligning curriculum tracks with local labor market demands, and implementing meaningful work immersion reform in every school.
They believe these are “tangible, cost-effective improvements that will yield stronger employment outcomes over time.”
While acknowledging criticisms such as curriculum overload, unqualified teachers, and implementation gaps, they clarified that “flaws in execution should not be mistaken for flaws in the framework.”
They proposed establishing Regional Centers of Excellence to mentor struggling schools, fostering partnerships with higher education institutions to upskill SHS teachers, and developing a rationalized, job-relevant curriculum that aligns with both CHED requirements and 21st-century skills.
REFORM, NOT REPEAL
The Catholic educators urged the government to commit to a full review of SHS implementation and institute necessary reforms without sacrificing its gains, and “breaking what is still being built.”
They warned that reverting to a 10-year education cycle would “dismantle existing structures, waste public and private investment, and once again send Filipino students into college or the workforce underprepared.”
The proposed regression “undermines not just policy but promise”, they said.
Instead of depriving learners of two transformative years, they stressed the importance of “doubling down on efforts to fulfill the original promise of SHS: to equip every Filipino youth with the tools, competencies, and values needed for success in life and in nation-building. Reform, not repeal, is the only rational and just way forward.”*