The National Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) Philippines on Saturday urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to continue its senior high school programs in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) at least for another year.
In an interview on Dobol B TV, PTA national president Willy Rodriguez said, this will allow more time for public schools, teachers, parents, and the Department of Education (DepEd) to prepare for changes.
“Sa ngayon po hindi pa handa ang ating mga magulang sa usaping yan. Kasi nga po madaming estudyante eng maaapektuhan,” said Rodriguez.
“Talagang hindi pa po handa ang ating DepEd sa ating mga public schools,” he added.
CHED previously reiterated its decision to discontinue the SHS program in SUCs and LUCs.
In a memorandum dated December 18, CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III said that the engagement of SUCs and LUCs in basic education through SHS shall only be limited to the K-12 transition period from School Year (SY) 2016-2017 to SY 2020-2021.
Rodriguez said this will have a huge impact on students and parents because of additional expenses.
“Talagang mahihirapan ang mga galing SUC… Kulang ang mga teacher at rooms sa public schools. Another pahirap ito sa mga magulang kasi nga additional expenses,” Rodriguez said.
De Vera previously explained that CHED has been reminding SUCs and LUCs in the past two years to already wind down the SHS enrollment because they no longer have a legal basis to continue to accept high school students.
He also pointed out that the law states that public universities should serve as higher education institutions and should only offer degree programs in higher education.
DepEd, meanwhile, said that affected SHS students may transfer to public schools offering basic education. It also said displaced learners may also opt to enroll in private schools in the next school year and avail of the voucher program.
DepEd also doused fears about public schools not being able to accommodate the 17,700 affected incoming Grade 12 learners.
“Yes, kakayanin naman ‘no. Nakipagugnayan na tayo sa lahat ng mga regional offices and SDOs (Schools Division Office) kung saan meron tayong enrollees sa mga local universities at nakikita natin nga sa Grade 11 natin, out of the 17,700, nasa average na 250 learners per division ang nakikita nating ia-accommodate sa mga division offices na public schools,” said DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas on Thursday.
Bringas also emphasized that the halting SHS program in SUCs and LUCs is “anchored in law.”
“That’s the K to 12 Basic Education law natin, nasa IRR natin ‘yan, Section 32 na hanggang five-year transition lang ang pag offer ng mga SUCs and LUCs ng SHS,” Bringas said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
