The House of Representatives approved on second reading HB 11213, which seeks to offer young learners the option to complete basic education in four years of high school, or pursue an additional two years of pre-college education if they plan to proceed to higher studies.
House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chairperson and Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo, who sponsored the bill on the floor, said HB 11213 or the proposed “Education Pathways Act” seeks to address the problem where many senior high school graduates, despite the K-12 program’s goal to prepare students for work, still struggle to find employment.
“Despite completing senior high school, many senior graduates face challenges in finding employment as the private sector continues to favor students and graduates of colleges and universities.”
“The reality of the job market has not aligned with these expectations. Despite completing senior high school, many senior graduates face challenges in finding employment as the private sector continues to favor students and graduates of colleges and universities over those who have solely completed the K-12 program,” Romulo said, citing a 2020 Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) study which found only one in five senior high school graduates join the workforce, with most opting to pursue higher education.
“Only one in five senior high school graduates join the workforce, with most opting to pursue higher education.”
Former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recounted how the push for additional years in basic education began during her administration, and emphasized the need to meet international standards for professional courses.
“I’m very glad that now, we have this bill on the floor, and I join Chairman Romulo in asking our colleagues to pass this bill, Committee Report 1312, immediately,” Arroyo said.
Both Romulo and Arroyo are authors of the said measure.
