K-12 Removal: Senator Estrada Proposes
2 min read
JUNE 06,2025
Senator Jinggoy Estrada has filed Senate Bill (SB) 3001, proposing to remove the mandatory Senior High School (SHS) level from the K-12 program. The bill aims to streamline the country’s education system and ensure students receive a quality education that meets global standards.
Estrada’s bill keeps the core principles of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 but eliminates the SHS level. It proposes a simpler structure: one-year kindergarten, six years of elementary education, and four years of secondary education.
The Senate will not discuss the bill before the current Congress adjourns on June 13. However, Estrada plans to refile the bill during the 20th Congress.
Has K-12 Failed?
Estrada has long criticized the K-12 program for not fulfilling its promises. He argues that the program has not produced well-rounded graduates with 21st-century skills. Although SHS was meant to guide students toward higher education, vocational training, or the workforce, Estrada claims the system fails to prepare students effectively.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has admitted that SHS has not met its goals. Issues like an overcrowded curriculum, overburdened teachers, and a low employment rate among SHS graduates have been persistent. Only 10 percent of SHS graduates join the workforce, and most work in informal sectors.
Estrada questioned the additional time and costs that students and their families bear for Senior High School. A Pulse Asia survey in March 2025 revealed that only 33 percent of respondents were satisfied with the program, while 40 percent expressed dissatisfaction. SHS approval rates have steadily declined, dropping from 41 percent in 2023 to 33 percent in 2025.
A Call for Reform
Estrada believes that SB 3001 will help fix the country’s education system. By removing SHS, he proposes a more efficient use of resources and a better learning experience for students.
“After 12 years, the law still hasn’t achieved its goals. We can’t keep letting students and their families bear the extra costs and time,” Estrada said. He insists that the K-12 system needs reform to meet the nation’s needs.
The Future of Education
The debate continues: Should the K-12 system be overhauled, or should it be refined? The current structure hasn’t delivered as expected, and many argue that change is necessary to give Filipino students the education they deserve. NOWTREND
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